Sabatini has maintained one of the best fresh records in racing with a fighting first-up win at Caulfield.

The Street Cry mare landed her first win against open-class opposition when taking out the Le Pines Funeral Handicap on Saturday.

Trained by Lee and Shannon Hope, Sabatini was having her first start since finishing down the track in the Group One Sangster Stakes at Morphettville in May.

Ridden by Kerrin McEvoy, Sabatini ($6) scored a long-head victory over The Monstar ($61) with Kuro ($6) a head away third.

The heavily supported $2.40 favourite, Sydney visitor Craftiness, led for home but wilted in the final stages to finish fifth.

Hope, who with his son is facing cobalt charges, said Sabatini would head back to mares' grade to add more black type to her record with the Group One Myer Classic during the Flemington carnival on the agenda.

"She's only ever had one go beyond the mile and that was in the Thousand Guineas and she only got beaten a length and a bit," Hope said.

"The Myer Classic, that's at the end of the carnival which will likely suit her."

McEvoy said the victory was a tough performance because the four-year-old was under pressure for most of the race.

"I envisaged she would be three or four lengths closer in the run, but full credit to the mare as she pulled out all stops to win," he said.