Some fillies would have come home from ferocious racing at Alexandra Park in February feeling a little flattened.
If Classical Art fell into that category, she was well and truly recovered in time to win the $20,000 Nevele R fillies heat at Forbury Park on Thursday night.
In fact, the racing in the Oaks Prelude and the Great Northern Oaks - in which the Mark Purdon and Natalie Rasmussen-trained filly finished fourth - may have given the Mach Three filly that extra depth required to win last night.
She had to dig in to withstand a challenge up the passing lane from On The Town, driven by Dexter Dunn.
''Like Dexter said, he thought he had me then at 100m and so did I,'' Classical Art's driver, Tim Williamson, said.
''But, to her credit, she knuckled down the last little bit and came back right on the line.
''Back to the 1700m and being against the fence in front she was pretty happy - she relaxed beautifully and it was a good result.''
The Oaks was over 2700m, and Williams felt that the drop back of 1000m suited the filly, who has found herself in front in recent racing by accident rather than design.
''I think she will be a good follower of speed. She's probably been a victim of circumstances and being such a big girl and a Mach Three, she got wound up there for a while and she's back heading in the right direction now.
''She'll probably want another race before the final [in May].''
Classical Art was a $31,000 purchase by Purdon at the 2013 sales - the same sales where Jamie Gameson decided he wasn't going to make the same mistake again after failing to follow his wife's advice a few years ago.
That is why he ended up buying Sauchiehall for $11,000.
That purchase paid off at Forbury Park when the 3yr-old cleared maidens with a smart win in a 1700m fillies and mares mobile pace.
''We actually prepared her for the yearling sales a couple of years ago,'' Gameson said.
''She was Natalie's pick that year so we thought we would buy her.''
That sounds like a fair reason to buy the daughter of Gotta Go Cullen - especially when you discover Natalie Gameson's pick a year earlier has won more than $250,000.
''Her pick a year before was Locharburn and we didn't buy him, so when she said this one [was her pick], we thought we better buy her.''
Gameson has a bit of time for Sauchiehall and was surprised it took until her 10th start to notch up her maiden victory.
''She's a nice filly, but just had no luck,'' he said.
''I thought it would have won at Gore three weeks ago, but just copped a wet track and done too much work. Last start they went 1.54 at Winton and she was running on so it was pretty good form coming here.''
Allan McVicar might describe Char Do Neigh as no champion, but he is now a four-race winner after just 20 starts.
McVicar potters around with the Bettor's Delight gelding and one other 2yr-old in Gore, and bred the 5yr-old out of Fake Left mare El Serene.
''I've had two others prior to him [out of El Serene] and they weren't any good, actually.
''He's a nice reliable fella - no champion, but he's good for me.''
Char Do Neigh will take his place in the Southern Country Cups final on April 12 before heading out for a spell and returning in the spring.
