New Zealand-bred filly Fancy Dress took the most positive step so far towards justifying the reason for being in Australia with a last-stride win at Kembla Grange on Sunday.

Racing for Garry Chittick under the banner of the famous New Zealand nursery Waikato Stud, Fancy Dress was sent to John O'Shea to be trained for next month's Australian Oaks and she confirmed she was heading in the right direction in the visitwollongong.com Handicap (1600m).

"She's in the Oaks and that's what she is here for," O'Shea's assistant trainer Bryce Heys said.

"She still has a lot to learn in terms of tractability but she has always given the impression she will run a strong mile-and-a-half.

"Hopefully she can make it to the race for Waikato Stud because they have been dear friends of the stable for a long time."

Fancy Dress was a $201 Oaks chance before Sunday's win and remained unchanged at that quote despite tentative plans to test her credentials for the Group One race in a traditional Randwick lead-up.

"Her manners will get better with racing and hopefully we'll see that if she goes to the Adrian Knox Stakes," Heys said.

Fancy Dress, the favourite despite a $3 to $4.40 betting drift, was positioned midfield by James McDonald and she started to work her way into the race from the 500m.

She still gave the leader a tidy start before arriving in time to beat Quality Impulse ($7) by a half neck.

Adorabeel ($7) finished a neck away third, giving the Waikato Stud-based sire Savabeel the first and third placings in a race run as a virtual consolation to the Group Three Keith Nolan Classic.