Master trainer Darren Weir is considering a shot at the 2016 Myer Classic on VRC Derby Day with his upset Tesio Stakes winner on Cox Plate Day Kaniana.

The six-year-old Canny Lad mare was at an outsider’s price to post her first win since mid-August in the $150,000 Group 3 Tesio Stakes (1600m) – running this year as the Merlin Garage Door Openers Stakes.

She thrived returning to her pet track at the Valley, where she now boasts two wins from four starts, after the brave second at the course two back in the Group 2 Stocks Stakes (1600m).

Last time out she went forward in the Group 3 Ladies Day Vase (1600m) at Caulfield and was brave holding for sixth beaten only three lengths.

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

“She presented really good in the yard and she was really fit coming into this race and got a great ride so a terrific result.

“She went well in the Stocks Stakes then at Caulfield she drew wide…I thought she hung on really well.

“That really toughened her up for today.”

Kaniana atoned in the Tesio Stakes thanks to a gun ride from jockey Damian Lane who got the cover and presented her at the right time for the three-quarter length win over Rocket Commander ($9).

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

“I had a cruisy run and needed protection from the wind.

“When I produced her and asked the question she responded really well.

“It’s always good to get on this quality of animal and for a quality stable with the Weir camp.”

Weir was confident heading into the Cox Plate Day feature and confirmed plans to possibly back-up on the short seven day turnaround heading to Flemington Racecourse for the $500,000 Group 1 Myer Classic (1600m).

“I thought we had a really good chance [today],” Weir said.

“I’m not sure now, she might be worth chucking in the Group 1 at Flemington.

“She’s a Group 3 winner now so maybe we’ll throw the stumps at that.”

The hot Tesio Stakes favourite was the Chris Waller-trained Lady Le Fay and after jockey Hugh Bowman kept her on the rails, she failed to feature in the finish proving the inside isn’t where runners want to be at the meeting.

The Matthew Dale-trained Ladies Day Vase runner-up Rocket Commander was sizzling from the wide alley in the Tesio and went up to take the lead from Antelucan on the inside in the early stages.

The defending champion Coronation Shallan also began flying and was traveling in third just ahead of St Swithuns, while Bowman had the eventual beaten favourite in fifth.

At the home turn Antelucan strode out to lead, with Metaphorical also looking to be running on.

In the closing stages the Michael Moroney-trained Encosta De Lago four-year-old Alaskan Rose ($9.50) was coming home fast, but Kaniana down the middle got up to win from Rocket Commander.

Finishing off the Tesio Stakes trifecta a further three-quarters back in third was Alaskan Rose.

To back Kaniana next weekend in the Myer Classic 2016 at the right price head to Ladbrokes.com.au now.

2016 Tesio Stakes Results & Finishing Order

Moonee Valley Race 5 – 22/10/2016

Place	#	Horse	Trainer	Jockey	Margin	Br.	Wgt.	SP
1	8	KANIANA	Darren Weir	Damian Lane	–	5	57kg	$17
2	2	ROCKET COMMANDER	Matthew Dale	Ben Melham	0.75L	11	57kg	$9
3	9	ALASKAN ROSE (NZ)	Michael Moroney	Patrick Moloney	1.5L	3	57kg	$9.50
4	10	DULVERTON	Robert Smerdon	Mark Zahra	1.9L	8	57kg	$14
5	5	METAPHORICAL	David & B Hayes & T Dabernig	Luke Currie	2L	6	57kg	$15
6	1	LADY LE FAY (NZ)	Chris Waller	Hugh Bowman	2.1L	2	58kg	$2.40F
7	11	ST SWITHUNS	Ciaron Maher	Luke Nolen	2.85L	9	57kg	$12
8	6	EVERY FAITH	Robert Smerdon	Dwayne Dunn	2.95L	10	57kg	$26
9	7	ANTELUCAN	John O’Shea	James McDonald	3.45L	1	57kg	$7.50
10	12	WHIRLPOOL	Peter Morgan & Craig Widdison	Stephen Baster	4.45L	7	57kg	$81
11	3	CORONATION SHALLAN	Brett Scott	Daniel Stackhouse	8.2L	4	57kg	$19
–	4	MANAGERESS	Cindy Alderson	Nicholas Hall	–	0	–	–