Classy mare Shamal Wind has claimed an upset win in the Listed WJ Adams Stakes in a race which had a tragic aftermath when filly Kiss A Rose collapsed and died in the mounting yard.

Shamal Wind ($10) took out the Listed 1000m sprint by a long head while odds-on favourite Lord Of The Sky ($1.90) failed to beat a runner home.

The Peter Moody-trained Kiss A Rose came back to the mounting yard and collapsed and efforts to save her failed.

A Racing Victoria (RV) spokesman said an autopsy would be carried out but initial advice from the vet was it was not heat related.

Temperatures reached 31.7 degrees on Saturday with the maximum on the wet bulb being 27.7, the spokesman said.

Racing Victoria's hot weather policy kicks in when the temperature gets to 35 degrees or a reading of 28 on the wet bulb.

"Given the initial symptoms it is what would be referred to as a sudden death but not heat related," the spokesman said.

Kiss A Rose finished 11th in the race.

Shamal Wind, meanwhile, will progress to the Group One Oakleigh Plate (1100m) at her next start.

Shamal Wind finished strongly to defeat General Truce by a long head with two lengths to Brilliant Bisc third.

The horses were behind the gates before the race for longer than normal.

Chief steward Terry Bailey said two jockeys had requested to go out on the track early and others followed.

Shamal Wind's trainer Robert Smerdon went into the race thinking the mare had a couple of things against her but was impressed by the win.

"From the barrier I thought she was going to be stone last with a big job in front of her," Smerdon said.

"Courtesy of a tactically good ride by Ryan (Maloney), she's come up with the major end of the prize."