Ashlee Mundy was uppermost in the thoughts of Tegan Harrison when she won the Bat Out Of Hell aboard All That at the Gold Coast on Tuesday.
Mundy died in a race fall in New Zealand on Sunday but rode regularly at the Gold Coast where she became friends with Harrison, who fought back tears after the race.
"Going to the gates before the race I actually felt privileged to be the only girl in the race and I felt I was riding for all of us after what happened to Ashlee on the weekend," Harrison said.
"They always refer to this horse as a `girl's horse' because he's never done any good for the blokes.
"So I was trying to do it for the girls and I'm overwhelmed that it all worked out."
All That ($21) is Harrison's most important win since she began her apprenticeship at the Gold Coast three years ago.
Trainer Trevor Stevens has had to wait two years for his plan to win the Bat Out Of Hell came to fruition.
"Last year we ran him in the race but things didn't pan out so we had to wait another year," Stevens said.
"He has to lead and this is the race I always wanted to win with him.
"I thought if he could get to the front then it would take a good one to run him down."
Earlier, Playtime booked an extended Coast campaign when she landed a plunge to win the Class Six Plate (1200m).
Backed from $7 into $4.80, Playtime was brought with a well-timed run by jockey Jason Taylor to defeat Commandare ($4.60 fav) by three-quarters-of-a-length with Dusty Gold ($11) a length away third.
Trainer Todd Austin has the Magic Millions Fillies and Mares Handicap (1300m) highlighted as an option for Playtime who has been plagued by bad luck several times during her career.