Trainer Mick Kent will step his Helmet filly Metronome up to stakes company following her tough performance in the Ladbrokes Friday Night Lights Handicap (1200m) at Moonee Valley.
Second behind Sanctimonious over the same course and distance when making her career debut back on February 2, Metronome was sent off a short-priced favourite. She gave her supporters reason to worry when Stephanie Thornton was forced to travel three wide the trip.
The leggy chestnut did not shirk her task in the closing stages, gunning down Sundarbans (Sepoy) by one and quarter lengths with Gheedaa (Hinchinbrook) a short-head back in third.
Kent said Thornton did the right thing by letting the filly find her rhythm.
'There was no point pulling her back, she knows the filly well, she got into a nice rhythm, has a nice lengthy stride, so keeping her smooth was important," Kent said.
"I trained her (Metronome's) mother. The people that bred her gave her to me. She's all legs and I keep saying I don't know how she is a two-year-old but she does nothing wrong and keeps stepping up.
"I thought after the last run we mightn't get another run out of her but she has thrived since.
"We are hopeful she can get to the Breeders' Stakes at Flemington in a couple of weeks.
"If she can snag a stakes placing in a couple of weeks that would be great.
Metronome's dam Chilean Miss (Hussonet) made just five starts, winning first-up in a 2yo maiden at Mornington before her form tailed off.
A three-quarter sister to Listed stakes-winner The Huntress (Husson) out of a winning daughter of stakes-winner Martelomeo (Marscay), Chilean Miss has a yearling filly by Helmet and was bred back to Darley Stud's triple Group 1 winning son of Exceed And Excel again last spring.
Helmet has 13 lots catalogued for the Inglis Premier Yearling Sale.
