Godolphin's astute placement of its two-year-olds has been rewarded at Randwick, with Ottoman and Calaverite running the quinella in the Percy Sykes Stakes.

Ottoman had a short half-head to spare over her stablemate on the line on Saturday, with favourite Lake Geneva another head away.

It was a win-win result for Godolphin trainer John O'Shea, who said he didn't care which of his fillies got the bob in when it mattered.

However, with Calaverite already boasting black type, it was fitting that Ottoman managed her first stakes victory.

"It didn't matter, really. We're just trying to do the best for our team," O'Shea said.

"But she deserved that win. She's always been talented."

An impressive debut winner in December, Ottoman had a solid autumn without adding to her tally.

She bungled the start of the Percy Sykes but recovered quickly to take up a position midfield on the rail, and when a run came in the straight, Sam Clipperton sooled her through to mount a challenge.

In a competitive finish, Ottoman defied a betting ring drift from $6.50 to $11 to score.

O'Shea said both his fillies had earned a spell.

Fourth placegetter Sempre Libera had the hard-luck story of the race, after being pocketed until halfway up the straight then getting caught in a bumping duel before finishing hard.

"It should have won," Sempre Libera jockey Joao Moreira said.