Hall of Fame trainer David Hayes believes the team’s smart filly Personal has “invited herself” into the 2020 Blue Diamond Stakes next month following a second-up win at Flemington on Saturday.

The daughter of Fastnet Rock improve don her second at Geelong on debut at the start of the month to salute for the punter’s in the $125,000 Flemington Event Staff Handicap (1100m).

Ridden to a half-length victory by Craig Williams, the filly was especially impressive over the final 200m having come from behind to pick up her rivals and defeat Parlophone by a half-length.

Personal reminded co-trainer Hayes of a previous star filly of his, Miss Finland, who also won a January sprint at Flemington at her second career start back in 2006.

“I do really think this filly is very, very good,” Hayes told the media post-win.

“Miss Finland won down the straight [in the Listed Talindert Stakes] at her second run but she also won her first race in a small field at Ballarat.

“This filly, I think is very similar at the same stage. If she ends up that good? Not many do.

“I don’t think she’s a sprinter.”

Miss Finland would go on to win that year’s Group 1 Golden Slipper Stakes (1200m) in Sydney after a Blue Diamond Stakes third, as well as four other Group 1 features including the 2006 Thousand Guineas (1600m) and VRC Oaks (2500m).

At this stage, Hayes has Personal pegged as more of a future miler – stayer than a sprinter but is eyeing a run in the Group 1 $1.5 million Blue Diamond Stakes (1200m) for her at Caulfield on February 22.

“I think she just invited herself, if you ask me,” Hayes said.

“A high-pressure race, with a big finish like that. It’s tempting.

“We’ll see how the race pans out as the day goes on. I reckon she ran a pretty good last furlong.

“We’ll just see how she pulls up whether she has a run before it or goes straight in because I do think she’s probably more of a Sires’ Produce Stakes filly than a sprinter. But Miss Finland was a bit that way as well.”

The Group 1 $1 million Inglis Sires’ Produce (1400m) runs at Royal Randwick on April 4 as part of ‘The Championships’ Day 1.

Hayes has enjoyed four Blue Diamond Stakes wins since 2006 including most recently his 2017 success with the filly Catchy – ridden to victory by Williams – in partnership with his son Ben and nephew Tom Dabernig.

Current all-in Blue Diamond Stakes 2020 odds – available here – have Personal listed at $26 through Ladbrokes.com.au.