LAMMERSKRAAL-bred filly Laverna led from pillar to post under Anthony Delpech to land the spoils in the Grade 1 Thekwini Fillies Stakes over 1600m at Clairwood on Saturday.

This was a meritorious win for the daughter of Parade Leader as she set a strong gallop and really never looked in any danger of being caught. The challengers came at her one by one, led by recent Golden Slipper winner All Afire and followed by Possible Dream and My Kazzie, but Laverna galloped on at the same hard pace and won easily by 4.25 lengths.

Laverna wins (Gold Circle).

My Kazzie, staying on well, took second ahead of outsiders Possible Dream and Touch The Moon, who franked her form from an earlier place to Laverna and is one for the notebook.

“She’s come on since her last run,’’ said Delpech. “It’s always great to ride Mike’s horses because they are very fit.’’

Laverna  is owned by the partnership of De Kock, Warne and Wendy Rippon, Andrew “Trash’’ Poole, Graeme Joffe of radio fame and Dubai-based businessmen Al Qama.

“I am very happy for all the owners,’’ said Mike. “Graeme and Andrew had their first Grade 1 winner. Ali previously bought a smart horse called Channelseventytwo that was injured, so this is good  reward for him as well.

Having soundly beaten both All Afire and My Kazzie in a Grade race Laverna’s connections will be in line now to receive an Equus  Award for Champion Two-Year-Old Filly.