Brenton Avdulla could easily have been riding in Sydney on Saturday and missed out on winning his first Melbourne Group One on Snitzerland.

After partnering Snitzerland to Group One glory in the Lightning Stakes at Flemington on Saturday, Avdulla revealed he had originally taken rides at Rosehill thinking the mare would be kept to the Oakleigh Plate next week.

But a stunning barrier trial win on Tuesday last week at Rosehill changed all that and had Avdulla straight on the phone trying to rearrange his commitments.

"To be honest I went to the trials that day expecting her to run in the Oakleigh Plate and hence I took rides in Sydney today," Avdulla said.

"As soon as she trialled I was straight on the phone to try and work out my contacts to see if they would let me off my rides in Sydney and try to chase the ride on her.

"I thought she trialled unreal and was going to be going to an even sort of Lightning and be very competitive."

He said he was due to ride Sharnee Rose, who finished fourth in Saturday's Breeders' Classic in Sydney, and thanked her connections for allowing him to relinquish the ride.

Avdulla has been based in Sydney in recent years where he has won three Group Ones, but he hails from Melbourne and had never won a Group One in his home town.

He said he was confident throughout the race.

"I knew 600 metres out I was going to take some beating and from the clock tower I still had more to give, which is always a good sign here," he said.

"Shamexpress was coming to me but she was just doing enough."