Kembla Grange trainer Bede Murray will target Saturday week’s Group III Nivison Stakes (1200m) with Fine Mist after the mare upstaged some hardy sprinters at Warwick Farm on Monday. Almost a month since finishing six lengths astern of Catkins in the Group III Sheraco Stakes (1200m), Fine Mist was afforded a class drop in the Pro-Ride Flying Handicap (1000m) but bumped into veteran speedsters Zaratone and Diamond Oasis.

In a surprising opening sequence to the race, Joe Pride’s Diamond Oasis mustered enough early speed to lead Bjorn Baker’s renowned front-runner Zaratone. Rider Jason Collett kept Fine Mist within striking distance of the pair before hooking to the outside in the straight and hitting the lead at the 100 metre mark.

The grey drew a length clear on the line while Diamond Oasis ($2.15 fav) and Zaratone ($10) tired late to finish out of the placings. The Kris Lees-trained Onemorezeta ($8) claimed second, a short-head in front of Slots ($21) from the Grant Marshall stable. Murray said the mare will return to stakes company in the Nivison Stakes (1200m) at Randwick on October 17 as she looks to add to her black-type placing in the Listed Denise’s Joy (1100m) at Scone back in May.

“She’s starting to mature mentally now, it was a very nice win,” Murray told Sky Thoroughbred Central. “I thought she could win even though there were some hard heads in there. “She had the lightest weight I think she’s ever carried today and she did it well. “There’s better things ahead for her, probably more so in the autumn but she’ll go to the Nivison next start.”