That is about how you would sum up Vihanna Victory, the brave winner of the Chandler Macleod Handicap at Moonee Valley on Saturday.

She was the pin up girl and a good reason to celebrate for those that race the mare, her trainer. Terry O’Sullivan, breeder, Alan Harvey, and a group that call themselves the Battlers Tavern Synd,a hotel at Ballarat.

The win was a courageous effort her first start at 2500 metres, she had been failing at 2000 metres at provincial races previously, for an obvious reason, she was ridden too far out of her ground.

Patrick Moloney used a bit of nous on Saturday, when she jumped from a near outside gate he didn’t reef her back to last, he allowed her to stride up closer to the lead, she was in her comfort zone, travelling sweetly, minus the pressure.

Passing the winning post first time round, the diminutive mare was matching strides with the leader, Master’s Degree.

Vihanna Victory winning at Moonee Valley

Positions didn’t alter much until the top of the straight was reached, the favourite, Master’s Degree, still held sway by a neck.

He was in no hurry to give in, nor was Vihanna Victory, to her credit she fought out the result tooth and nail.

Trainer, Terry O’Sullivan, has always had a soft spot for the mare, she has never run a bad race in her life, a mare that always puts in and is as honest as the day is long.

She is likely to race at Flemington on Saturday week that could be the testing material as headquarters can be a tough assignment.

Vihanna Victory was bred by Alan Harvey, former mine host of the Racecourse Hotel at Werribee, and former Chairman of the Werribee Racing Club.

Vihanna Victory returns to scale under Patrick Moloney