The hard fought victory of the Simon Miller-trained Meteoroid in Saturday's Listed Belmont Newmarket was worth considerably more than the $60,000 winner's cheque for her owners Barry and Jean McRostie.
The lightly raced 6yo daughter of Northern Meteor added the all-important black-type to the pedigree page at her 19th start and fourth at stakes level.
She came close in November last year when second to Cosmic Storm in the Listed Jungle Mist Classic.
Given a cosy run in fourth place on the fence by Joseph Azzopardi, Meteoroid was set to an all-out drive at the 300 metres.
She looked to be in trouble when the challenges came thick and fast over the final 100 metres but she fought them all off.
Under half a length separated the first four across the line.
Meteoroid defeated Profit Street (Viscount) by a short-head with Battle Hero (Stratum) a half-head back in third. (photo Perth Racing).
"Joey was at her the whole race, she didn't travel at all, but once she got into the straight she balanced up and found that lane and it was a really good win," Miller's racing manager Kyle Nowland said.
"She didn't jump that well the other day which is a bit unusual for her, but she began well today, had a nice run.
"It's good to get our first win of the season and it's black-type as well.
"She'll go out now and come back for that mares series in the summer carnival.
"She's earned another season at the racetrack. She's going to be a great broodmare when she finally gets there, she deserves another season."
A $90,000 purchase from the Kitchwin Hills draft at the 2013 Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale, Meteoroid advances her record to 7 wins, 5 seconds and 1 third from 19 starts with earnings of $240,590.
She is the second foal of the talented Benatar, a stakes-placed daughter of Distant Music, who was a 6-time winner in Melbourne.
The pedigree received a significant update as Benatar's dam Rather Yallah is a half-sister to Palatine Hill the dam of Group I Australian Guineas hero Palentino (Teofilo) who embarks on his own stud career at Sun Stud this spring.
Benatar has a 2yo colt by I Am Invincible named Ben Hercules.
She was covered by Sizzling last spring having not been covered in 2015.
Meteoroid comes from the second of four crops left by Northern Meteor at Widden Stud before his death in 2013 and is his 24th stakes winner.
