Toffee Tongue went into Saturday’s Group 1 Australasian Oaks (2000m) at Morphettville a maiden and emerged victorious.
Toffee Tongue was a maiden herself going into Saturday’s $400,000 contest but she had finished second at her previous four runs.
Toffee Tongue had finished runner-up second to Colette in the Adrian Knox Stakes and Australian Oaks at her previous two runs and started favourite despite her maiden status.
Jockey Damien Thornton had to make a steering decision approaching the home turn with Toffee Tongue travelling kindly but smothered away on the rail.
Thornton elected to stay on the inside and the move won him the race as Toffee Tongue dashed through on the inside to score by three quarters of a length over VRC Oaks placed Moonlight Maid in a blanket finish, with only three lengths separating the first nine runners across the line.
Trainer Chris Waller told AAP were considering a trip to Brisbane for the daughter of Tavistock before switching to the Adelaide race.
“We only decided to send her to Adelaide after she ran so well in the Australian Oaks and the Adrian Knox before that,” Waller said. “Even though it was her first win, I felt she was always improving.
“Her run in the Adrian Knox Stakes was great and her run in the Australian Oaks was brilliant. She perhaps should have finished at least a bit closer.
“It’s great to get the Group I with her.”