With two wins at Moonee Valley from her past three starts, Embrace Me had good form at the track and distance but was largely overlooked by punters when sent off at odds of $32.
Ridden quietly by Brett Prebble, the Danny O'Brien trained filly as still last with
a furlong to run, but unleashed a sizzling sprint to dash between horses and
score a powerful length and three-quarter win in the 1200 metre sprint."She was unlucky last start and was never extended," said Prebble.
"She was always going to win from the 500, it was just a matter of getting a gap.
"She has plenty of upside."
A $90,000 NZB Premier Yearling Sale purchase from the Henley Park for Blue Sky Bloodstock, Embrace Me is the best of three winners from Party Royal, a half-sister to Group I New Zealand Derby winner Military Move.
Embrace Me has won four of nine starts earning over $200,000 in prizemoney.
She is the third stakes-winner for Group I VRC Newmarket Handicap winner Shamexpress, who was also trained by Danny O'Brien and now stands at Windsor Park Stud in New Zealand.
