Much of the post-race talk focused on $2.80 favourite Oxley Road running out of puff on the straight.
But no one can discredit the performance of Mileva in taking out the Sir John Monash Stakes at Caulfield.
The four-year-old mare, with Daniel Moor aboard, was brave inside the final 100m in the 1100m sprint worth $200,000.
She notched up her third victory for Phillip Stokes in six starts since October 16 last year.
And the Morphettville trainer now believes she can step up and be competitive in the Group 3 Bletchingly Stakes – also at Caulfield and over 1200m – on July 23.
“It (Saturday’s win) was very satisfying. The team has done a great job with her. She spelled well and presented beautifully here today, and Daniel Moor gave her a lovely ride,” Stokes told Racing.com.
“I think she’s OK on this (Soft 7 surface). I wouldn’t have liked to see her on anything heavier. She’s come back in good order.
“(Stepping up to) 1200 is the question mark. She’s proven at 1100, but she’s a bit stronger.
“I’ll have a talk to Daniel. We might have to have a throw at the stumps.”
From the middle of the pack, Moor judged his ride to perfection late in the race, going on to edge out Bless Her for Clayton Douglas.
“With two impressive trials she had the form here and Caulfield. We had a beautiful run,” Moor said.
“When I asked her to take that run at the top of the lane she was more than obliging.”
The Bletchingly could be just the start of some more feature-race race success for Mileva this year.
“At the moment she can step into spring. If she gets there, we’re not sure. But she was very well prepared today,” Moor said.
“All she’s done has been win. She can aim up for some better targets and see where she ends up.”
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