WELL-BRED filly Tori Marguerite produced a glimpse of her potential with victory at Wodonga on Saturday.
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Trained by David O'Prey, the daughter of Toronado broke through for her first career win in the $23,000 3YO & Up Maiden Plate, (1100m).
Ridden by Chelsea MacFarlane, Tori Marguerite was resuming from a 19-week spell and was only having her third career start.
Tori Marguerite is raced by a syndicate including a large contingent of Racing Wodonga members who also have a share in the promising filly.
O'Prey said it was pleasing to land a maiden victory so early in her career.
"It was a great thrill for the owners and the race club to get the win," O'Prey said.
"We have been patient enough with her and that was only her third start.
"She has always shown a bit of ability but at the same time being a bit new and a bit nervous."
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Tori Marguerite was well supported in betting, starting at $5.50 after opening at double figure odds.
MacFarlane pounced on the early lead from barrier six and copped plenty of pressure in the early part of the race.
Tori Marguerite showed a good turn of foot straightening for home and quickly pinched a break on her rivals.
It proved to be a winning move with Tori Marguerite too strong to the line to beat the fast-finishing Sly Sloth ($151) by a length.
Dukebox George ($15) was a neck further back in third.
Tori Marguerite finished fourth and sixth at her only two starts last preparation.
"She had some form behind some handy horses in her first two starts," he said.
"She did everything wrong so if she got it right she was always going to be in the money.
"She probably still raced a bit keener on Saturday than I would have liked but she was good enough to stave them off."
O'Prey expects Tori Marguerite to derive plenty of benefit from the win fitness-wise.
"There is certainly a bit of improvement there," he said.
"As I said if we can get her to settle a bit more and sit in behind them she should be able to race over a bit more ground.
"But that might just take time before the penny drops.
"She is a well-bred and are fortunate the owner Dianne Mallick leased her out with the club involved.
"So everyone is having a bit of fun and it's a bit of a shame nobody was allowed on course because there would of been a bit of celebrating going on."
The father and son training partnership of John and Chris Ledger claimed the training honours at the meeting with a double.
Free Folk won on debut.
While stablemate Haunted Stream notched her first victory this preparation in the $22,000 0-58 Hcp, (2050m) with Lachie King aboard.