A patient ride from jockey Damian Lane has seen Ciaron Maher’s three-year-old filly Loving Gaby over the line in the Group 3 Scarborough Stakes (1200m) at Moonee Valley.

Making up for a pair of runner-ups’ in the Group 1 Sires Produce Stakes and the Champagne Stakes at Randwick, Maher’s talented galloper lapped up the wide portion of the track at The Valley to win a thriller over race-favourite Exhilarates.

Lane, who found himself middle of the pack five-wide at the turn, had plenty of work to do in the late stages. Loving Gaby looked a touch underdone in her previous two starts, but Lane was happy to credit the horse for an impressive victory.

Loving Gaby has firmed onto the second line of betting with Ladbrokes ahead of this year’s Empire Rose Stakes on November 2. Photo Credit: Ultimate Racing Photos.

“From Tuesday when I worked to how she turned out in the yard today, she’s really come on in these last couple of weeks,” Lane told Racing.com.

“She just dominated the race, I was back wide, I thought I was going way too early cause I knew she was a bit underdone. I was doing her more harm holding her back and I just let her stride into it, and she was just dominant.”

Raw ability has always been on Loving Gaby’s side, and it showed on Friday having now won two of her six career starts.

After the race, Maher also admitted that he was a little uncertain how the I Am Invincible filly would travel. He now thinks Loving Gaby could line up in the Group 1 Empire Rose Stakes (1600m) at Flemington on November 2 should all things go according to plan.

“It’s great to have her back, high quality field here tonight. We thought she was a little bit vulnerable where she’s at, she’s a bit soft in her campaign and her preparation, so that’ll bring her right up to speed.

“It’s sort of three weeks to her next run and we’re on route to a Myer Classic,” Maher said.

Loving Gaby has firmed from $8.00 into $5.00 with Ladbrokes.com.au in pre-field 2019 Empire Rose Stakes betting. 

2019 Scarborough Stakes Results & Finishing Order