Kaniana has produced a smart turn of foot in the final straight at Moonee Valley this afternoon to take out the Group 3 Tesio Stakes (1600m) with relative ease.

Kaniana is the 2016 Tesio Stakes winner. Photo: Ultimate Racing Photos

Kaniana was all but forgotten in Tesio Stakes betting markets this afternoon, but the mare did her chances of success no harm when jumping well and taken a position within the field of eleven with cover, as Rocket Commander and Coronation Shallan set the early pace.

Damian Lane followed the form of the day and pulled the Canny Lad mare wide rounding onto the final straight; allowing plenty of time for the six-year-old to balance before asking for an extra effort.

Kaniana’s impressive late sprint was simply too good for her rivals as she comfortably found the fore of the field and extended to the line to beat Rocket Commander and a smart Alaskan Rose.

Trainer Darren Weir was pleased with Kaniana’s performance to win the Tesio Stakes and revealed that he will consider a start for the mare in next weekend’s Group 1 Myer Classic (1600m) at Flemington.

“She loves Moonee Valley and a little bit of cut out of the ground,” Weir said after the race.

“She presented really well in the yard, was really fit coming into this race and got a great ride, so it’s a terrific result.

“She ran well in the Stocks Stakes and then at Caulfield she drew wide and we elected to go forward and put her into the race, and I thought she hung on really well there under the circumstances.

“That really toughened her up for today, so I wasn’t coming here today thinking we’d win but I thought she was a really good chance.

“I don’t know what we’ll do now. She might be worth chucking in the Group 1 at Flemington. She’s a Group 3 winner now so mill have a bit of a throw at the stumps maybe.”

Lane delivered a perfectly-timed ride aboard Kaniana to win the 2016 Tesio Stakes and was thrilled to deliver the Weir camp a black type win on Cox Plate Day.

“The team have done a really good job with her,” Lane said.

“We had a cruisy run and just a little bit of protection from the breeze. When I produced her and asked for her, she really sprinted well.

“They just keep improving and it’s always good to get on this quality of animal, and for a quality stable like the Weir camp.”

Kaniana jumped at Tesio Stakes odds of $17 with online bookie Ladbrokes.