It wasn't quite the same as racing for $2 million but for connections of Pink Perfection her win at Warwick Farm was still an important milestone.
The Peter Moody-trained filly missed out on a start in Saturday's Magic Millions Classic at the Gold Coast as the second emergency.
Her trainer opted not to take the chance to send her north but kept her in Sydney for an easy kill.
Sent out at $1.90, Pink Perfection asserted her authority from the start and was given an easy time by Josh Parr in the run to the line, holding Stratalena ($5) at bay by a length.
"She deserves this," Moody's Sydney representative Clare Cunningham said.
"It's great for her to get one (win) under her belt before she goes for a spell.
"The Magic Millions was the plan but when that didn't happen, Pete decided to leave her here.
"I think she will probably have a spell now. She will benefit from a break because she is not very big."
With many of Sydney's leading jockeys suspended or at the Gold Coast meeting, Parr grasped the opportunity to ride the filly with both hands.
"If I get on the right horses I can get the winners," Parr said.
"She jumped straight on the bunny. She is really quick and I was kind to her late in the race.
"Horses like her make my job easy."