Under jockey Richard Bensley, the four-year-old mare fought hard for her second career victory, forced to go three wide on the turn before rounding them and holding on for a tough win in the 1600m class 1 and maiden plate.

Coves, a drifter in the market from $3 out to $4.60, won by just over half-a-length from Don't Throw Stones with Glamarama Girl ($3.10f) a narrow third.

In 12 starts, Coves has close to $40,000 in prizemoney, with two wins, two seconds and two third placings on her record.

The win was also Heywood's first since Coves saluted at Corowa in early November and closed out 2019 on a high for the stable.

Jerilderie apprentice Tyler Schiller topped off a good year with another win on the Phil Sweeney-trained Critical Reaction ($2.15f) which made it three wins and a second this preparation after claiming the 1200m open handicap.

It brought up 10 wins in Schiller's last 50 rides. He also rode Wayne Carroll's Stazzana to third in the 1200m maiden plate, won by Blazing Engine ($2.50f) for the Hayes stable, and was second on Sweeney's Bianbarnie in the 1400m benchmark 58 handicap.

In that, they were edged out by Ghost Doctor (trained by James Fraser) steered by Alexandra Bryan.

The Victorian apprentice finished with a race-to-race double, also winning the 1000m class one handicap on Millington for Vincent Nolen.

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