The Guy Walter trained Appearance proved that she is one of the top race mares in the country by scoring her second Group 1 victory in the Group 1 $600,000 Coolmore Classic (1500m) at Rosehill today.

Appearance (second from outside) has scores a tight win in the Coolmore Classic. Photo by Steve Hart

With Black Caviar holding the top spot ahead of More Joyous, Appearance is developing into a consistent Group 1 performer after winning the Group 1 $500,000 Myer Classic (1600m) at Flemington during last year’s Melbourne Cup Carnival.

Walter will now head towards the Group 1 $400,000 Inglis Queen Of The Turf Stakes (1500m) at Rosehill in two weeks and then onto the Group 1 $2m BMW Doncaster Mile (1600m) at Randwick on April 20.

“This is a very underrated mare. I said that after the Myer, she got under the radar, I didn’t think she could win that day and here we are she’s won,” Walter said.

“She’s only had twelve starts, won two Group 1s and the Keith Nolen, she’s an outstanding mare.”

Blake Shinn was at his best and drove Appearance to the line hard to get the photo decision by a nose from Red Tracer with another nose to the Bart Cummings trained Norzita who was also finishing hard for James McDonald.

“It was very tight, I wasn’t sure,” Shinn said.

“Had a great run throughout. Inside the 300m she just lifted for me, she responded, the more I asked of her she picked up. It’s just fantastic to win my first Group 1 for Guy Walter.”

Shinn and Walter had teamed up earlier in the day to take out the Group 2 $175,000 Spotless Phar Lap Stakes (1500m) with three year old Toydini.

Steps In Time ($5 favourite) had to do plenty of work early with Nash Rawiller crossing from the outside to set the pace and after skipping away in the straight was unable to hold off the strong finish of the three placegetters.

The Gerald Ryan trained Flying Snitzel was also heavily supported in the ring but was always well back and failed to figure in the finish.