As pleased as he was with the last start win of consistent mare Koe, Terry O'Sullivan believes the performance could have been even better.

The fact that it wasn't, however, gives him more confidence going into Saturday's Leilani Series Final (1400m) at Flemington.

Koe won a similar race at the same track two weeks ago, scoring by a length against similar opposition as she faces this week.

"I thought if she'd got to the middle of the track she'd have won by a few lengths," O'Sullivan said.

In defiance of the pattern of the day, Koe got an inside run to beat Spot On Maggie who has a two kilogram advantage at the weights.

"That probably makes it a bit tougher, but if we'd been in the better ground she'd have won by further."

Had she won as O'Sullivan believes she could have, Koe might have had to carry even more than the 60kg she has on Saturday, so the trainer isn't too disappointed.

O'Sullivan said Koe had been troubled by a variety of issues throughout her career and without them would have improved on her already impressive seven-win record.

He said the mare had also had a small problem after her Flemington win that had been treated immediately with shock wave therapy.

"She's always had plenty of ability, it's just been a matter of getting her right," he said.

"There was a slight problem after her last run but she's very good now."

Koe is one of three runners at Flemington for O'Sullivan who will also run Magic Me in the Rising Stars Final (1800m) and Hollowlea in the Winter Championship Final (1600m).

Hollowlea, a $17 chance, looks to have the better prospects of the two, O'Sullivan explaining that the horse had become bogged down on the heavy track when fourth at Warrnambool last Sunday.

"He'll be some chance in the final, he races well at Flemington and he missed the start the last time he went there and still finished fifth," he said.