David Hayes rates Athena Lass a stakes class filly and the two-year-old has lived up to the trainer's expectations with a debut win at Moonee Valley.

Athena Lass was sent out a $4.20 chance in Wednesday's William Hill Handicap (1000m) and after sitting outside the leader, she took over rounding the home turn and held off the chasers to win by a neck.

The Robbie Griffiths-trained Hay Bale ran second with another 2-1/2 lengths to Motown Lil.

"I think she's black type all day," Hayes said.

"She'd have to be to win that race today."

Hayes believed there was plenty of depth to the midweek race and said he would see how the filly pulled up before he decided whether to send her to Adelaide for the Listed Lightning Stakes on the final weekend of this season on July 30.

"Her trials were very good and we thought she was pretty smart," Hayes said.

"We were just worried if she made a mistake from an inside gate.

"But she's a very smart filly.

"I think it was a deep race today. There was a lot of pressure on through the middle stages and it just told a bit late."

Athena Lass was ridden to victory by Cory Parish.