KEY POINTS:
Stathi Kadsidis might have finished a heartbreaking fourth in the Oaks - losing an important group-one third to Veloce Bella in the last stride - but he had encouraging words for the owners of Shira.
"She'll be winning group-one races in the future," said the Queensland jockey after what proved to be a nightmare ride.
Shira was caught four wide leaving the home straight and Katsidis took the only other option which was to slide forward up outside the leader.
"I got into not a bad spot between the 1400m and 500m, but then the two in front of me died a lot quicker than I wanted them to and it left us in front."
A lot has been made of the home-straight sprint Princess Coup turned on - and it was spectacular - but the one produced by Shira was equally impressive between the home turn and the 200m.
But the Cambridge filly had done too much work earlier in the race and paddled the final 200m.
"She's a very, very good filly," said Katsidis, who a race earlier had won the $80,000 St Leger on Shira's stablemate Ritzy Lady.
Overkaast showed she was a good handicapper in the making with a gritty second and Veloce Bella tried hard for her third.
The rain dampened not only racegoers but the chances of many leading fancies all day.
