Sea Siren has claimed her third Group One trophy with victory in the Manikato Stakes at Moonee Valley for trainer John O'Shea and jockey Jimmy Cassidy.
Buffering was sent out the heavily supported favourite in Friday night's feature race but after being pressured for the lead by Satin Shoes and working hard throughout, he had little left in the straight.
Mental got a rails run but came up short of Sea Siren on the line.
It was the mare's first start since she finished out of the placings in the Stradbroke Handicap in June after winning the BTC Cup and the Doomben 10,000.
O'Shea has plans to take Sea Siren to the Winterbottom Stakes in Perth, where her major owner Keith Biggs lives, with a trip to Hong Kong in December also on the agenda.