A filly who severed her tendon at her second start proved she finally had everything together with a convincing victory at Flemington on Saturday.
The injury suffered in a race at Wangaratta kept It's Poets Day out of action for six months and also left a mental scar that has taken even longer to repair.
But trainer Emma Steel said it as only a matter of time before It's Poets Day fulfilled her potential.
"She always had ability, it was just a matter of getting her head right," Steel said.
Everything came together for It's Poets Day ($17) in the Isca Handicap (1000m) when she scored a dominant two-length win from the heavily backed $3.60 favourite Legcut.
They Call Me Bolt ($8) held on for third, a further 1-3/4 lengths back.
Steel had little doubt the wet Flemington track assisted her filly who scored her first win last month.
"When the rain came I was probably one of the few here who didn't mind," she said.
"She's always shown she can handle it so I wasn't concerned when the track was getting worse."
Steel, who had previously trained only one city winner, said It's Poets Day would now go for a spell and would return to racing late in the spring.
Steady rain throughout the morning in Melbourne resulted in the Flemington track being downgraded before the opening race with further downgrades expected.