Putting in a great final sectional of 22.89 seconds enabled Sparkling Satine to take out the Blue Ribbon Day Cup at Caulfield this afternoon.

In the process she surprised her trainer Danny O'Brien, who did not expect such a good performance first up.

Her rider Danny Nikolic was not quite so surprised based on her good form in trials.

Sparkling Satine "I trialled her about a month ago", O'Brien said.

"Her first trial was really good and her second trial was even better."

"It did surprise me to see her hit the line as well as that but she just cruised so well in the run."

Sparkling Satine ($15-$17) nosed out by a head a brave Partiva ($4.00-$6.00), which had tried to lead all the way with Marchelle Belle ($5.00-$8.00-$7.50) running on well for third, only a long head further behind.

Sparkling Satine Tonic, which was favourite at $3.80 after drifting from $2.80, could finish only tenth after being second throughout.

Partiva set a nice pace in front, expertly rated by apprentice Brent Evans, while Nikolic allowed Sparkling Satine to lob along near the rear of the field.

"The tempo was OK", Nikolic said.

"It wasn't breakneck but I was able to suck in between runners going round the turn and then I was held up until halfway up the straight."

"Then I got a bit of a gap she really sprinted well."

In three preparations before today, Sparkling Satine has never placed first up, but O'Brien pointed out that she had no luck at her first up run for him in the Autumn.

"She was very unlucky one day", he said.

"She probably should have won at Flemington first up."

"She is quite forward this time in but it certainly was a little bit of a surprise."

Following today's win, O'Brien is hoping to earn some black type with Sparkling Satine to supplement her pedigree.

"She's a mare that's been very competitive at a mile and we're going to stretch her out to 2000 metres towards the end of the carnival", he said.

"That's her sixth or seventh city win so she's been a nice mare."

"Hopefully we can win some black type with her."

Photos: Quentin Lang