Octavia has staved off a late charge from A Time For Julia to win the Group 3 Cockram Stakes in Melbourne.

Octavia leads all the way to win the Group 3 Cockram Stakes. Photo by Race Horse Photos Australia

The four-year-old won Caulfield’s final race of the day after pinging from the gates and leading the field throughout.

Octavia has now won five of her 11 race starts and has earned close to $300,000 in prize money during her short career.

Peter Moody’s A Time For Julia was brave in defeat, finishing second, while Oriental Ruby rounded out the first three positions in third.

Octavia is trained at Flemington by Mike Moroney, who was at the track to watch the mare’s Cockram Stakes win.

“She’s very gallant all the time,” Moroney said.

“I thought she was really solid today because it was a race where she was pretty vulnerable.

“She’s really tough and she’s a sprinter that takes a bit of work.

“We’re probably going to try her at 1,400 (metres next).”

It was the second feature win for jockey Kerrin McEvoy, who also claimed the Group 3 Vain Stakes aboard Safeguard in the fourth race of the day.

McEvoy felt Octavia performed brilliantly to hold off her opposition in today’s Cockram Stakes.

“She obviously is stepping up to a nice grade race today,” he said.

“But she’s been in winning form.

“Admittedly she had a nice cosy run but she tries really hard.

“(But) there’s quite a strong breeze and I just thought it may have hindered her a little bit.

“She’s a little brave thing that gives her best.”

The Holy Roman Empire mare won her last start in the $80,000 Daniel McMillan Handicap at Caulfield on July 27, and was having her first attempt at Group racing in the Cockram Stakes.

Despite being inexperienced when it comes to Group racing, it was the second Black Type win for Octavia, who won the Listed Kevin Hayes Stakes at the same track in February this year.