David Payne’s decision to scratch his promising filly Montefilia last weekend proved the winning move with the nicely-bred daughter of Kermadec putting her 2020 VRC Oaks credentials on show with a win in the wet at Rosehill on Saturday.

A win in the wet at Rosehill has Montefilia on track for the 2020 Kennedy Oaks in Melbourne this spring. Photo: Steve Hart.

Making her three-year-old debut, the bonny bay relished a Heavy (9) Rosehill track in the first on Missile Stakes Day for a rocketing performance in the $125,000 Sky Racing Active Handicap (1500m) for three and four-year-olds.

She was withdrawn late at Randwick last weekend by Payne who, after the opening two races, made an appeal to the stewards to scratch the filly from her event as he believed the track was a Heavy (10) and not 9 as officially rated.

A Newcastle winner on debut back in March, she subsequently caught the eye with a game fourth to Holyfield at Rosehill in Group 3 company over 1400m later that month before heading for a break.

She resumed at Kensington on July 18 running third to Thousand Guineas-bound Giovanna Run in the wet, and again proved her ability on Heavy going for her second career win on Saturday.

Flying with 53kg, Glen Boss guided Montefilia ($5) to a tidy 1.3 length win over the Chris Waller-trained Papal Warrior ($5.50), while Matthew Dunn’s galloper Rothenburg ($9.50) ran some four lengths back for third.

Boss made his move at the top of the straight and was impressed with the filly’s efforts to hold off the fast-finishing runner-up.

“She does everything right,” the champion hoop said.

“It is whatever path David chooses with her because when she gets fit, all you will have to do is maintain it because she is not overly big.

“She is a nice filly.”

It was exactly the performance Payne had been hoping to see as he prepares a spring agenda targeting the Group 1 $1 million Kennedy Oaks (2500m) at Flemington on November 5.

“She is very good,” Payne told the media post-win.

“She is only a baby and has only had three runs before this and this is her fourth, taking on tough horses.

“I think she is my Oaks filly.

“I knew she would keep going and she will improve off that as well because she is still learning the game.

“I will put her out now and give her two weeks and then aim for the three-year-old races but she might be better than I think.”

Montefilia could also race in Sydney’s Group 1 $500,000 Flight Stakes (1600m) at Randwick on Epsom Handicap Day, October 3, a race she has firmed in from $51 to $16 to win through Ladbrokes.com.au.

Updated all-in 2020 VRC Oaks markets at Ladbrokes.com.au meanwhile have her price slashed from $31 into $15 where she trails only the Chris Waller-trained Hungry Heart ($10) and Blue Diamond placegetter Personal ($12).

Click here for the latest VRC Kennedy Oaks 2020 betting futures courtesy of Ladbrokes.com.au.