Smart filly Dame Giselle led from barrier to post to score a tough first up win in the Group 2 $200,000 Darley Silver Shadow Stakes (1200m) at Randwick today.

Dame Giselle, above, was an all the way winner in the Silver Shadow Stakes at Randwick. Photo by Steve Hart.

The Peter and Paul Snowden trained Dame Giselle ended up running as the $3.60 favourite following the scratching at the barrier of the pre-post favourite See You Soon.

See You Soon has a history of poor barrier manners and was withdrawn after she refused to be loaded into the starting gates.

Dame Giselle had displayed plenty of ability during her two year old season and even though co-trainer Paul Snowden said that she wasn’t fully wound for today’s assignment at her first run as a three year old filly, she still had enough fitness to secure the win.

“It wasn’t our intention to be that far forward,” Paul Snowden said.

“Once she jumped as well as she did, Tommy had every intention of going forward. She had a really nice run in front. It is not her go but she was just too good in the end, and her class rose to the top.”

“She had a good campaign in front of her and she is not definitely screwed right down yet. But just that easy section she was afforded mid-race really helped at the end.”

Winning jockey Tommy Berry had Dame Giselle quickly into stride from the outside barrier and had no hesitation in taking the filly straight to the front.

Dam Giselle controlled the race from the front and had enough gas in the tank to hold off the late challenge of the runner up Thermosphere ($17) with the $26 outsider Miss Canada back in third spot.

Dame Giselle’s next run will be in the Group 2 $200,000 Darley Furious Stakes (1200m) at Randwick on September 5.