The $51 outsider of the field, Lady Esprit, charged past the odds-on favourite Snitty Kitty in the last 100 metres of Saturday's Polytrack W.J. Adams Stakes (1000m) at Caulfield to earn a maiden stakes win at her 27th start.
Form books read that the 5yo daughter of Bel Esprit failed to beat any of the 14 starters home at her most recent start at Moonee Valley but she went to the line untested when blocked between runners.
Her form before that had been consistent including a second to Crystal Dreamer in the Listed Doveton Stakes over a 1000 metres at Sandown.
Reagan Bayliss had Lady Esprit travelling sweetly in last place and had plenty of horse underneath him when asked for the supreme effort.
She defeated Snitty Kitty by a long-neck with Nasdex (Not A Single Doubt) a half-length back in third. (photo Darryl Sherer )
With her first stakes win in
Trainer Aaron Purcell said he was hopeful Lady Esprit would run a place.
"That was quite a strong race. She is quite a good filly in her own right," Purcell said.
"We thought the speed in the race would suit her sweeping style but we weren't sure if she was good enough.
"We were hoping she would run in the first three to get the black-type next to her name but winning is an excellent result."
Bred by Rosemont Stud, Lady Esprit is the sixth and penultimate foal of the Bellotto mare Fanciful Bella, a descendant of the Irish Oaks and Epsom Oaks heroine Juliette Marny, who did in September last year.
The winner of two races, Fanciful Bella was placed in Group 1 SAJC Australasian Oaks, the Group II MRC Angus Armanasco Stakes and Group III SAJC Auraria Stakes.
Lady Esprit becomes the 24th stakes-winner for Sun Stud's Bel Esprit.
