Arties Dime just got her timing right as she brought up her first win at Riverina Paceway on Friday.
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Coming off five top-four finishes before a spell, the filly just defied Mainland Magic to automatically go through to the NSW Breeders Challenge semi-finals.
The three-year-old didn't make things easy for himself as she drifted right off the track as the post loomed, but she did just enough to hold on by a half head.
Reinsman Jackson Painting thought she had missed out but was thrilled when his number came up first.
"She tried her best to get beat just running out but she held on luckily," Painting said.
"She's run a fair few placings and hadn't gone too bad, and her work at home had been really good so we were pretty confident going in.
"If she had of run straight she would have won a lot easier so we'll have to adjust some gear for next week."
Arties Dime had gone close without breaking through when trained by Hellen Scott, not finishing outside the top five in any of his six starts for the Albury trainer.
While she came into the heat without a trial, Painting was confident she was close to the mark.
"She's been there about a month and has got used to our program," he said.
"Her work has been really good and while there was no trial we gave her a couple of good hit outs at home and she was working against the ones who had been racing and winning."
Now he's looking to make it translate to the semi-finals of the group one series next week.
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The win came after a couple of other near misses in the group one series for Painting and his uncle David Kennedy.
They had finished second with two of the previous heats.
A Perfect Dance was run down by Headturner in the other three-year-old fillies heat.
However after a chequered lead up, Painting was thrilled with her performance.
"I was super happy to qualify her and she will really benefit from the run," he said.
"She can probably match it with the better ones."
The stable also finished second with Braedos Lad.
The newcomer to the stable ran The Stain to 1.6 metres.
"I was really happy with him and he went super first up," Painting said. "We've only had him a week so with a bit longer with us I think he will do a good job."
However they did taste success later on the card with Shes A Caribbean.
The two-year-old filly, who was third in her NSW Breeders Challenge heat last week, brought up her fourth win from nine starts.