Southern Speed has scored a classy win in the first Lightning Stakes Day Group race today, beating home a top field of fellow three-year-old fillies in the $200,000 Group 3 The Mittys Vanity (1400m).

Their win in the 2011 The Mittys Vanity has also earned the Leon Macdonald-trained Southern Speed a ballot exemption into next month’s 2011 Australian Guineas field.

Maintaining her unbeaten record with a third career win from as many starts this afternoon, Southern Speed bought her tremendous Adelaide form with her to Flemington and beat home the short-priced favourite Do Ra Mi in a thrilling run to the line.

Punters that took our advice would have enjoyed a nice win as we tipped the winning The Mittys Vanity Quinella earlier in the week at Races.com.au.

Peter Moody’s Do Ra Mi was marginally away first from the barriers but it was Zabillie who settled into the front running position just ahead of the race favourite.

Absolutely was in third throughout with Precious Lorraine fourth and the outside and the eventual winner back in a midfield position.

On the home run Do Ra Mi stole the lead with 300m left to travel before Southern Speed, ridden beautifully by Clare Lindop, loomed up on the outside to challenge.

Southern Speed and Do Ra Mi turned The Mittys Vanity into a two-horse race to the line, fighting it out stride for stride over the final 100m.

In the last 50m Southern Speed drew right away and nailed Do Ra Mi winning by a good 1 ½ length margin while the John Thompson-trained roughie Count Your Fingers finished in third.

Crown Oaks runner-up Shamrocker finished off the top four placings with a good first-up performance.

Southern Speed’s striking win today has her on target to become a great stayer and with Zabeel in her bloodline she is sure to continue on and race competitively up to 2500m later in her career.

Post-win MacDonald said he would consider the Australian Guineas on March 5 for the classy Southern Image filly, whose stablemate Spirited Eagle is racing at Flemington next.

Another $750,000 Group 1 Australian Guineas ballot exemption is on offer to the winner of Flemington Race 5, the $200,000 Group 3 CS Hayes Stakes (1400m), and Spirited Eagle is currently paying $6 through Luxbet to win.

The 2011 CS Hayes Stakes is due to jump at 3:30pm (AEDST) so check the odds at Luxbet now!

2011 The Mittys Vanity Finishing Order

Finish	No.	Horse	Jockey	Trainer	Weight	Margin
1st	5	SOUTHERN SPEED(8)	Clare Lindop	Leon Macdonald & Andrew Gluyas	54.0	1-24.17
2nd	8	DO RA MI(5)	Luke Nolen	Peter G Moody	54.0	1.3L
3rd	7	COUNT YOUR FINGERS(6)	Craig Newitt	John P Thompson	54.0	2.8L
4th	1	SHAMROCKER(7)	Steven Arnold	Danny O’Brien	56.5	3.5L
5th	4	BECERRA(9)	Ben Melham	Lee Freedman	55.0	3.7L
6th	9	ABSOLUTELY(2)	Craig Williams	Michael Kent	54.0	5.0L
7th	6	BRIDE SALAMA(1)	Michael Walker	Anthony Cummings	54.0	5.7L
8th	2	PRECIOUS LORRAINE(3)	Mark Zahra	David Hayes	56.5	9.7L
9th	10	ZABILLIE(4)	Michael Rodd	Gary Portelli	54.0	19.7L
Src	3	SHE’S GOT GEARS	Brad Rawiller	Robbie Laing