David Hayes is hoping Afleet Esprit can follow in the hoofsteps of Gregers and Commanding Jewel by figuring in the feature fillies' races during the spring after a fast-finishing win at Moonee Valley.

Afleet Esprit finished strongly on the outside after being awkwardly placed approaching the turn to win Saturday's Simpson Construction Plate (1200m) by a long head over Avanti with 2-1/2 lengths to Tahni Dancer third.

Afleet Esprit's stablemate Gregers won the corresponding race last year while two years ago the race for three-year-old fillies' was won by Commanding Jewel.

Commanding Jewel went on to win the Group One Thousand Guineas that spring while the Hayes-trained Gregers won the Group Two Thousand Guineas Prelude and was third in the Thousand Guineas.

"(The Thousand Guineas) is the main target. She showed today she can step up I think," Hayes said.

"She isn't quite running to her trackwork yet. She's a brilliant trackworker. I think the penny is starting to drop."

Afleet Esprit was having her fourth start having previously won a maiden at Geelong in June two starts ago before a close second at Moonee Valley over 1000m on August 2.

Hayes believes the daughter of Bel Esprit is already looking for 1400m and could look to step her up to that distance next start.

"I think she'll have a devastating turn of foot when she gets to her correct distance," Hayes said.

Afleet Esprit was ridden by Damien Oliver who said the filly did a good job to win in the final strides.

"She showed a bit of class to get out of an awkward position and get over the top of them," Oliver said.