David Hayes has quite an opinion of first starter, Athene Lass, after her win in the William Hill Handicap at Moonee Valley.

She had shown up quite well in recent trials, however, there is no substitute for an actual race and Hayes was quite pleased with her debut.

She will now be eased up a little with a spring campaign pending, she could easily get further as the filly settled down well in the field and was running on well at the right end of the race.

There are some nice races about that would suit her in the spring now she has the benefit of race experience.

Athena Lass is by the remarkable Snitzel, his progeny have produced earnings in excess of $56 million where he stands at Arrowfield alongside his own sire, Redoute’s Choice, who has sired winners of $125 million, sire of 1105 runners with 841 winners.

Athena Lass heading to the winner's circle

Yasnat gave her rivals something to chase

Canberra trained filly Yasnat showed her rivals a clean set of plates in winning the William Hill Cox Plate On Sale Handicap.

She led for the entire trip, but wouldn’t have wanted much further as the rest of the field were closing quickly, in particular World Of Hope, who came from last, at the entrance of the straight, to go down by a long neck.

Yasnat was the form horse of the race having won twice at Canberra over 1000 metres, she is a Written Tycoon filly, in her two previous races she was ridden by Jae Ford, who won a string of races on Takeover Target.

Yasnat returns to scale until Dylan Dunn