Michelle Payne has predicted a bright future for three-year-old By The Grace who has had his issues at the barriers but was on his best behaviour in winning at Flemington.

The Andrew Noblet-trained By The Grace was a luckless runner when unplaced at Sandown last start in a race he was close to being scratched from after being difficult to load into the gates.

Stable representative Brock Brigham said horseman Julien Welsh worked on the gelding's barrier manners and it paid dividends as By The Grace had no issues in the Secondbite Fresh Food Rescue Handicap (1400m) on Saturday.

By The Grace ($10) settled midfield from his inside alley and was aided by a well-judged Michelle Payne ride.

Payne angled off the fence rounding the home turn and got into the clear on the outside in the straight before the gelding sprinted to a 1-1/4 length win over Search Squad with My Angus 2-3/4 lengths away third.

"Barrier one was the concern but he just travelled so well the whole race," Payne said.

"He was never going to get beaten."

Payne has ridden By The Grace in his six starts, for two wins, and believes he can reach stakes level.

"He seemed to love that soft ground and it was a really impressive win," she said.