Merriest took her record to two wins from four starts with this hard fought win. Damien Oliver bounced her out from barrier six to take up a handy spot just behind the early leaders. Down the side she moved closer to the pacemaker, continuing to eat into the lead and was perfectly placed to challenge as they straightened. At the 200m she levelled up the leader but had a fight on her hands then gradually inched clear to put her head in front at the post. Western Australian raider, the previously unbeaten Whispering Brook, took the lead down the side and into the last corner. Merriest ranged up but Whispering Brook never lay down and fought very hard all the way, losing narrowly yet gamely. Sweet Sherry settled worse than midfield before making a forward move (in traffic) before the last corner, then, with a gap opening up, surged wider into the clear and ran home better than anything for a strong third.