Strawberry Field landed her first black-type success when she swept home out wide on the track to beat odds-on favourite Ortensia in the Herald Sun Stakes at Flemington.

Trained at Randwick by John O'Shea, the Encosta De Lago mare was sent out at $21 in the Listed 1400m event and, well ridden by Nick Hall, defeated Ortensia ($1.95) by a half-length with Ortensia's stablemate Rose Syrah ($11) a half-length away third.

"She's always shown us a good bit of ability but we were patient with her and it's nice to reap rewards on a day like today," O'Shea said.

"It's always an honour to train a winner on Melbourne Cup day and we are really pleased.

"She has a lovely pedigree and it's even better now."

Out of the VRC Red Roses Stakes winner Red Labelle, Strawberry Field cost $430,000 at the 2007 Magic Millions Yearling Sale on the Gold Coast and is a half-sister to Pellizotti who was placed in the 2009 VRC Maribyrnong Trial Stakes (1000m).

O'Shea said he had the option of running the four-year-old in the Listed Summoned Stakes (1500m) at Sandown on Saturday week.

"We won the Summoned with Irongail (in 2003) and she's the equivalent of her so we'll see how she does over the next couple of days," he said.

"The only thing is she likes to be a little bit fresh, but we're here and we'll give it consideration."

The Tony Noonan-trained Ortensia was badly held up for a run in the straight and jockey Craig Williams said by the time she got out Strawberry Field had drawn level with her.

"I felt the winner if anything was going away from her at the finish," he said.

"Maybe she would have been better if allowed to drop out instead of racing handy."

Pictures - Fiona Tomlin