Warwick Farm-based trainer David Pfieffer celebrated a Melbourne breakthrough when Atmospherical won at Flemington.

Ridden by James McDonald, Atmospherical ($4.60) scored by 1-1/2 lengths from Consorting ($17) with Straight Gold ($12) a length away third in the Dilmah Earl Grey Stakes.

Atmospherical was Pfieffer's third Flemington runner and his fifth in Melbourne.

"It's a great experience to get down to Melbourne and have runners at the spring carnival," Pfieffer said.

"It's the toughest time in racing in Australia. I'm glad to be involved and glad to have a winner."

Pfieffer said he had been planning to get to Melbourne a bit earlier, but a few things didn't go his way with the mare.

"She won well last start so we thought we'd tip our toe in the water towards the end of the carnival," he said.

Atmospherical has now won six of her 10 starts and the victory gave the daughter of Northern Meteor her second stakes success.

Pfieffer said the mare would continue to get better with age.