CLASS Bendigo sprinter Miss Leonidas has appreciated a drop in grade in the $300,000 Group 2 Caulfield Sprint on Saturday.
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The Shaun Dwyer-trained mare had finished second behind Nature Strip in the Group 1 Moir Stakes at Moonee Valley before leading throughout in Saturday's 1000m dash.
Jumping straight to the front under Stephen Baster, Miss Leonidas, the $3.90 equal favourite, held off fellow equal favourite God Of Thunder by a half-length with Malibu Style ($11) a long-head away third.
Baster rode Miss Leonidas in the Moir Stakes and said with a more favourable draw the mare may have gone closer to troubling Nature Strip, who scored by a short neck.
Nature Strip went on to finish fourth in Saturday's Everest at Randwick, won by the Chris Waller-trained Yes Yes Yes.
"She's a star," Baster said.
"I think if she had drawn not quite as wide the other day, she might have beaten Nature Strip.
"My concern today was barrier one because she can be a bit funny out of the gates.
"Once she got out I gave her a little dig, which was probably the worst thing to do, as she got over-racing a bit.
"But on her form, she had the best form, so I wasn't too concerned."
Baster said he could hear the runner-up God Of Thunder approaching and was worried Miss Leonidas may be overhauled, but the mare responded to hold on for a strong win.
Sally Dwyer, daughter of trainer Shaun, said Miss Leonidas would now be spelled ahead of a light autumn.
"Then she'll come back for the autumn (in Melbourne) where she might have one or two races, maybe three," Dwyer said.
"Then she'll be off to the breeding barn."
Trainer Shaun Dwyer was not at Caulfield, but in Queensland for a family function.
Miss Leonidas has now won five of 16 starts and been placed on six occasions for prize earnings of $670,800.
Her latest win was the mare's second at Group or Listed level following her win in the $140,000 Bel Esprit Stakes at Caulfield in April.
Miss Leonidas' most recent preparation comprised three runs, including a first-up seventh in the Group 2 McEwen Stakes at Moonee Valley on September 7, when she finished just 1.1 lengths behind the winner Faatinah.
The win boosted Dwyer's tally of Group and Listed race wins to 20, including two at Group 1 level and three at Group 2 level.
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