Aussie Betty followed up a top effort at her previous appearance to break her maiden over 1550 metres on the synthetic track at Cambridge.

The three-year-old daughter of our resident stallion Embellish had been a fast-finishing second over the course and distance last month and she went one better in fine style.Embellish has now sired 17 winners, including G3 Chairman’s Stakes winner Bold Soul, from 44 representatives to sit third on the New Zealand Second Season Sires’ Premiership.

The Samantha Logan-prepared Aussie Betty was again slowly away and settled toward the tail on the fence.Rider Sam Spratt was able to angle away from the rail for the filly to improve around runners 600 metres from home and she powered home to win at just her fourth start.

“She had worked on well from her last start, she seems to like the synthetic, so it looked like the ideal place to come back and have a go,” Logan said.

Future options for Aussie Betty now include the $60,000 series finals at Ruakaka next month.

She is a half-sister to the G3 Chatham Stakes winner and multiple Group 1 placegetter Age Of Chivalry with their dam the Kaapstad mare Onyx.A daughter of the G3 Awapuni Gold Cup winner Kay Row, Onyx also has an unraced Embellish juvenile named Favours The Brave.

Virtuous Circle made a long overdue return to the winners’ circle when he gained a confidence-boosting victory at Flemington.The four-year-old son of Almanzor gave all his rivals a start and a beating over 2000 metres to post his first success for 21 months.However, he has performed well in strong company in between times with multiple placings at Group 2 level and finished runner-up in the G1 Australian Derby.“I think there’s been a bit of unjustified criticism, he’s been running really well,” trainer Liam Howley said.“Gelding had the right effect on him, we’ve never lost faith so it’s a great result.”Virtuous Circle dropped to the tail of the field before rider Ethan Brown urged him forward near the turn and he produced a sustained finish over the top of his opposition.“It was a peach of a ride and the willingness from the horse is back,” Howley said.“It was all about getting him to win again and getting his confidence up.”Out of the stakes placed Stryker mare She Is Stryking, Virtuous Circle was a A$360,000 Inglis Classic Yearling Sale purchase.We are involved in the ownership group of his younger brother El Poder Del Sol, who was given a break following his maiden success at Geelong in April.

Almanzor’s progressive son Rise At Dawn returned to racing in a blaze of glory at Flemington.Trained by Ben, JD and Will Hayes, the three-year-old was resuming over 1600 metres following an enforced break and he hung on grimly to win by the barest of margins in a driving finish.“I thought he had got beaten so it’s nice the photo went our way this time,” Ben Hayes said.“We had been hoping to get to a Derby with him, but he pulled up a bit sore after the Port Adelaide Guineas at Morphettville.“He had freshened up really well and to come back and win a race at Flemington is fantastic.”Rise At Dawn made the running and kicked well clear 300 metres from home and had enough in reserve to post the fourth win of his seven-start career.“I rode him in his last jump-out and was pleased,” successful rider Celine Gaudray said.“We got an easy lead and while he paddled the last bit, he’s done a great job.”Bred by Monovale Holdings, Rise At Dawn was purchased by Lindsay Park for A$90,000 at the Inglis Melbourne Premier Yearling Sale.He is an older brother of this season’s G3 Taranaki 2YO Classic placegetter Kay’s Ruebe with their dam the Listed Newmarket Handicap winner and multiple Group 1 placegetter Kay’s Awake.