Gai Waterhouse had led in 130 Group One winners before Amanpour won the Queen Of The Turf Stakes but the mare's win was obviously more satisfying than most.

Ever exuberant, Waterhouse was even more so than usual after the mare denied the popular Catkins by 1-3/4 lengths in Saturday's 1600m race for fillies and mares.

There was a minor scare before the start when Amanpour ($21) was backed out of the stall but she was quickly passed fit to start and Kerrin McEvoy put her in a forward position out of the gates.

Catkins ($4) also jumped well and was given every chance by Joao Moreira but had to settle for a fourth Group One placing after beating Amanpour in the Emancipation Stakes two weeks ago.

"We took her to Melbourne in the spring and she came close a couple of times," Waterhouse said.

"She is such a tough mare and is all bone and muscle. She is so fit and it's so satisfying to see her win.

"It was a great ride by Kerrin. It was perfect."

Noble Protector ($5.50) was a gallant third after being forced to race wide all the way while the leading pair stuck closer to the rail.

For McEvoy, it was one of his easier Group One wins.

"She got a bit antsy in the gate and lunged at it but it was all good," McEvoy said.

"I knew 600 (metres) out I had it won.

"There was a question whether they were as good as her in the ground and they weren't.

"She relaxed so well. She had a good run behind Catkins last time.

"That was level weights, and it was level weights again today, but she was better suited up to the mile and on this ground.

"She was just too good."

Catkins jockey Joao Moreira was disappointed not to win but said the mare gave her all.

"She tries really hard. There are no excuses. She just found a better one on the day."

Despite her past two Group One defeats, punters stuck with First Seal who was the $3.50 favourite but could only manage sixth.

"She was disappointing. She may have had enough," her rider James McDonald said.

It was Waterhouse's fourth win in the race in the past five years with More Joyous winning in 2011 and 2012 and Diamond Drille last year.

Diamond Drille was never in the race this time around, finishing 12th of the 15 runners.