Caulfield trainer Robert Smerdon looks like he has a smart filly on his hands after Shamal Wind scored a runaway win in the Listed $150,000 Gucci Icons Of Heritage Stakes (1200m) at Flemington today.

Shamal Wind was only having her second race start and after winning at Ballarat first-up on October 25, remained unbeaten with her impressive victory today.

Winning jockey Mark Zahra was very taken with the filly’s win and was surprised at her acceleration  when he let her go at the 250m.

“Very special. You know that you are going alright when you haven’t even pressed the button yet and everyone else is off the bit,” Zahra said.

“When I said go she put paid to them quick. I waited to the 250m to press the button and she gave me a real good feel. I think she could be something special.”

“I just put her in behind, she switched off, every time I clicked her she was right there for me. When I put a loop in the reins she put about three on them.”

Smerdon had taken Shamal Wind along slowly and the filly has gradually improved with trialling and racing with Zahra setting up a good association with the lightly raced daughter of Dubawi.

“I did a bit of work with her at the trials and every sort of trial got better and then come race day she really showed her best and she’s just getting better all the time,” Zahra said.

Shamal Wind ($12) raced away at the finish to score by two lengths from Brave Soul ($5.50) with Isabella Snowflake ($6) a further one and a half lengths away in third place.

Favourite Meidung ($4.20) joined in at the 300m but was no match for the winner and worked away to finish in fourth spot.