In what turned out a rotten result for punters the debut performer Took a Chance, a 50/1 pop on course, caused a boilover in its half length win.

Last early on the outside of the straight, Andrew Findlay was able to guide the filly between runners before bursting to the front in the shadows of the post.

Part owned by Dennis Marks, who’s top performers have included Let’s Elope, Richfield Lady and Ustinov, Took a Chance could be a surprise Blue Diamond Stakes runner after today’s win.

It was a delayed debut for Took a Chance, a filly who was due to have her first start at Moonee Valley just over a week ago.

"She had been placed in the barriers when a horse next to her went off," her jubilant trainer Nigel Blackiston reflected.

"After that happening she (Took a Chance) reared up and she was a late scratching," Blackiston added.

Blackiston said that Took a Chance, a daughter of Unbridled’s Song, is a "more than maybe" chance of contesting the Group One Blue Diamond Stakes, a million dollar race at Caulfield on February 23.

Winning jockey Andrew Findlay told connections while unsaddling that the winning filly would be "very entertaining" over the longer distances in future.

"She’ll be much better suited up over a mile," Findlay said.

"We were a bit tardy away. But then she was always ready to go, I just had to press the button," Findlay added.

Our Webster a member of the powerful Lee Freedman stable raced well first up since October to finish a close second, while Nightbird did a good job finishing third a further head back.

Hardrada ($2.60 fav) never looked overly comfortable in the dead conditions back on the inside of the track, but still looked as though he was going to score before paddling over the final 200 metres of the 1100 metre dash.

The fifth placegetter (Hardrada) will probably skip the Blue Diamond Stakes and focus on some of the feature events over more ground.

"The jockey got off of him today and said he would be better suited in a race like the Sires’ (Produce) or the Gibson Carmichael," his Perth trainer Lou Luciani said.

Kembla Grange based trainer Bede Murray was pleased with the effort of his previously unbeaten Celtic Swing youngster Recruiting. The Damien Oliver mount was thereabouts over the concluding stages and boxed home to finish fourth, a touch less than a length from the winner.

Prosperous Bid, one of two runners for Tony McEvoy, was a late scratching after dumping Kerrin McEvoy on the way to the barriers and galloping down to the barriers.

"Talindert" near Camperdown in Western Victoria, was the property of former VRC Chairman Sir Chester Manifold. It was the birthplace of the great steeplechaser Crisp, which ran second to the legendary Red Rum in the 1973 Grand National Steeplechase at Aintree.

PICS - Quentin Lang.

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