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 The Gai Waterhouse-trained Lotteria confirmed her ranking as the second best mare in Australia when she stormed home to land Saturday's Group One Myer Classic (1600m) at Flemington.
A week after her gallant second to Makybe Diva in the Cox Plate, the four-year-old powered home over the last 200 metres in the weight-for-age event to score a three-quarter length win over pacemaker Miss Potential with Shania Dane 1-1/4 lengths away in third place.
 "She was very impressive and was a class above them," Waterhouse declared as Larry Cassidy brought Lotteria back to scale.
"He (Cassidy) looked like he was going to get into a pocket as they came around the turn but he just went sideways and once she got her feet she exploded up the straight."
Waterhouse had to talk connections into running Lotteria on Saturday after her Cox Plate performance but she was convinced it was the right race for her.
"She showed her class last week when she ran second to Makybe Diva in the Cox Plate but in this race she was so well weighted you would expect her to be able to win," Waterhouse said.
 "She is just a really classy mare."
Lotteria has won eight races from 14 starts and Saturday's victory was second at Group One level after posting a seven-length win in last year's Flight Stakes (1600m).
Cassidy said Lotteria gave him an easy ride on Saturday.
"All I had to do was steer her, the trainer did the rest," he said.
"Once I got into the clear she powered home."
 Waterhouse will resist the temptation to back up Lotteria in next week's Group One Emirates Stakes (1600m) at Flemington and will instead send her to the spelling paddock.
"She will come back for the autumn and the Coolmore Classic and the Doncaster Handicap," she said.
Lotteria's absence from the Emirates will be a bonus for the connections of Miss Potential who will be nominated for the feature.
On Saturday Miss Potential looked set to win the Myer Classic for the second year in a row but couldn't hold off Lotteria's challenge.
Photos: Quentin Lang
© 2010 Published 29/10/05
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