The embarrassment of a Flemington failure of a month ago was erased for trainer Brian Cox by the impressive win of his filly Sumakaray at Moonee Valley on Saturday.

Cox sent Sumakaray to Flemington with plenty of confidence but she finished a poor 12th of 14.

But on a Valley track that the trainer said suited her far better, she overcame a wide run in the Chandler Macleod Handicap (1000m) to overpower a quality field.

Sumakaray ($3.90) stormed to the line to score by a length over the favourite Avoid Lightning ($3.60).

Cox said the win vindicated his faith in the filly, but added that Flemington had not suited the horse.

"We went to Melbourne and we thought we'd win a big race but we got a bit of egg on our faces because she didn't handle the straight," Cox said.

On top of the Flemington disappointment, Cox said he had to abandon a Melbourne mission after injury forced Sumarakay's scratching from a race at Moonee Valley two weeks ago.

"We had a hiccup when we were going to come here. She got a bit of cellulitis, her leg blew up," he said.

Cox has hopes that Sumakaray will progress even further in the coming autumn.

"I've got a high opinion of this filly, we haven't seen the best of her, I hope," he said.

"You'd like to win a black-type race - I think she's up for that."

Apprentice John Kissick, who was told to leave his run as late as possible, described Sumakaray as "the best filly I've ever ridden".

"I didn't have much luck, I got stuck out there. But I was just sitting on her back, she's a very, very good filly," he said.

For Kissick the win, his third in Melbourne, advertised the talents that last year made him NSW champion apprentice of last season.

Kissick said he was looking to add his name to the impressive list of apprentices riding in Melbourne.

"I'm hoping to move to Melbourne pretty soon, I'm just trying to sort out where I'll go," Kissick said.

"I really don't want to say too much because I've talked to a few people."

Current leading apprentice Chad Schofield emphasised the wealth of junior talent in Melbourne, following Kissick into the winner's enclosure on Hidden Message ($8.50) in the Late Starter Membership Handicap (2040m).

Hidden Treasure scored by three-quarters of a length from Frank The Ripper ($41) with a short half-head to Street Eclipse ($7) in third.

The win was Schofield's 13th for the season on metropolitan tracks and his 26th overall.

AAP TUR