Apprentice Nathan Rose took Sneaky Tsu to the front from barrier five from which point he was never headed after stealing the race with some slow sectionals.

In the run to the line, Sneaky Tsu ($8-$10) defeated Ruby Slippers ($21) by three quarters of a length with Better Be The One ($3.70-$4.80) and Gardner ($5) dead-heating for third.

The David Hayes trained Lannaki ($21) was far from disgraced in fifth, finishing under two lengths from the winner.

Troy Corstens was relieved to register a win to break the drought which stretches back to Morossa at Geelong on November 15 while the stable hasn't won a race in the metro area since Sneaky Tsu won at Moonee Valley two days earlier.

"It's nice to get the monkey off the back," Corstens said before adding "I think a lot of credit has got to go to Nathan.

"The instructions were to lead if you had to but I'd rather sit in second and third and the kid did a fantastic job," he added.

Sneaky Tsu may continue to race through the summer months with a decision to be made in the coming days.

"We had planned to send her straight to the paddock but I'll have a chat to dad," he said.

"She's come a long way, she's come from winning a Murtoa maiden to winning at Flemington on a Saturday in one preparation so she's done a really good job.

"She's got a great heart."

Sneaky Tsu is owned by the Spicer thoroughbreds syndicate and carried the same silks to victory as stablemate Starspangledbanner in the Caulfield Guineas last year.

By deceased sire Tsuimai, a son of Thunder Gulch that won the 2003 Group 2 Gloaming Stakes, Sneaky Tsu has won three from nine with her prizemoney over the $80,000 mark.

© Cyberhorse 2010 Carl Di Iorio Published 01/01/10