Matthew Oram credits his Australian agent Kieran Moore for the gamble he took to buy Petty Cury, a gamble which paid off when she won the Group Three Darley Plate (1200m) at Ellerslie.

Petty Cury settled in the trail before fighting valiantly in the straight, just holding off topweight Durham Town.

Oram said he was finding buying very tough when she was sold in Karaka in 2010 and said he had to ring his racing partner Andrew Li in Hong Kong to say he'd need to go to $NZ150,000 for the Not A Single Doubt filly.

"When she came up we bid to $160,000 but then David Ellis bid $165,000," he said.

"I turned my back but Kieran said to me `one more' and we got her for $170,000.

"He said she was very well made and he deserves a lot of credit for picking her out."

Petty Cury took her earnings to $117,800 with the victory but the Group success was worth plenty more to her broodmare value.

Oram is one of the owners of 1000 Guineas winner Rollout The Carpet and had earlier success as a co-owner of the top racemare and broodmare Marquise but said this victory was special because of his connection to her trainer Don Sellwood.

"Don is a wonderful man and a terrific horse trainer, and his son Shane is getting married tomorrow so this is a great present for them."

Oram said the mare was likely to be rested after Saturday's victory.

Durham Town was gallant in defeat, conceding the winner 4kg and having to deal with barrier 12 at the tricky Ellerslie 1200m start.

He now heads to Sydney trainer Chris Waller to be prepared for the Group One Galaxy (1100m) on April 20.