Trainer Lance Noble won his first Group One race in his own right when Viadana took the Easter Handicap (1600m) at Ellerslie.

Viadana settled just behind midfield, but the gaps came for her in the straight and she raced through for jockey Mark Du Plessis to just beat Postmans Daughter, with Our Famous Eve finishing third in New Zealand's final Group One race of the season.

Noble made his way working for respected horseman Jim Gibbs and as a junior partner to Roger James, but Saturday's win was his first at Group One level by himself.

"It's fantastic for a filly that wasn't over-expensive at the sales," he said of the $25,000 purchase," Noble said.

"We've got a great team of owners and to get the ultimate is just fantastic."

Jockey Mark Du Plessis said he wanted to get into the race earlier, but being held up may have been a blessing in disguise.

"I wanted to go earlier and she would have got beaten if she'd gone when I wanted her to go."

Favourite Zurella, fifth in the Coolmore Classic in Sydney two weeks ago, never fired and just beat five home.