Emirates Park tackled the Group II ATC Darley Silver Shadow Stakes (1200m) at Rosehill with two high-class homebred daughters of Tassort, and it was up and comer Ameena’s time to steal the limelight from last season’s Group I winner Manaal.

In a heart-stopping finish, James McDonald timed his run to perfection on the Anthony and Sam Freedman-trained filly to edge out Godolphin runner Silmarillion by a short-half-head, with the topweight Manaal a late closing third.

A winner at her first two starts at Bendigo and Caulfield, Ameena was a gallant second in the Group III TBV Thoroughbred Breeders Stakes at Flemington before finishing her two-year-old season when unplaced in the Group II ATC Percy Sykes Stakes.

Anthony Freedman revealed a Queensland winter holiday for Ameena had been beneficial.

“We took quite a few up to Queensland this year, which worked well for us,” Freedman said.

“The winters are much harsher in Melbourne, so we like to get the better ones away and came here and presented well today. There was enough speed for her to finish off.

“She won her first two starts, leading or right on pace, but I’ve never really thought that’s how she would race, so it opens up some options for her.”

With three wins and a second from five starts and prizemoney topping $260,000, Ameena is the first winner for Emaan, a winning half-sister by Harbour Watch (IRE) to the dam of Group III winner Marboosha. She produced another filly by Tassort last spring.

Ameena is the second stakes-winner for Tassort, who had a surge in popularity last spring at Newgate Farm covering 231 mares to be the busiest sire in Australia.

He stands this spring at $38,500 and is fully booked.