Soaking rain, sweeping wind and a testing Soft 7 surface greeted the juveniles in the opening race on Champions Day, the $400,000 Inglis Banner at Flemington.
Nine of the twelve runners were making their debut, but none handled the conditions better than the Ciaron Maher-trained filly Calamari Ring, who dug in late to fend off a determined challenge from Streisand as the pair drew clear of the field.
“The team are doing a good job with these babies, and Brownie is doing the right job on top of them as well,” Maher said.
“She’s got a lot in front of her. I honestly didn’t think she would be early enough to be racing now. But she just keeps doing everything right and keeps progressing like the good ones do.
“To do that down the straight for the first time, on a wet track, shows she’s got plenty of upside.”
Jockey Ethan Brown was equally impressed with her professionalism.
“She trialled against older horses on a wet track and handled it well,” Brown said.
“She was very well prepared by Ciaron — as usual — and she’s only going to improve again as a three-year-old.”
Calamari Ring was sent out as joint favourite at $5.50 in a wide market. Runner-up Streisand started at $6.50, while Bohemian Rhapsody finished a further margin back in third at $7.
