Deep Field lost his unbeaten record at his sixth start and first run at Group 1 level in Saturday’s $500,000 Lightning Stakes (1000m) with co-trainer John Hawkes saying he “simply wasn’t good enough”.

Lankan Rupee ($2.60) won the Lightning Stakes by 2¾ lengths in 56.29 seconds, the final 600 metres covered in 33.31. Brazen Beau ($5) worked home generously for second a long neck ahead of Deep Field ($2.15 favourite) who ran third.

“He (Deep Field) simply wasn’t good enough, the winner (Lankan Rupee) was too good. We’ll wait for another day,” Hawkes said.

James Winks was having his first ride aboard Deep Field in the Lightning and believed the horse acquitted himself well in defeat.

“I was happy in the run, he was working with me for the first half of the race and then I sort of thought he’d quicken as he would,” Winks said.

“The next think I knew Lankan Rupee just went past me and there was no second change up speed that makes Group 1 horses.

“I’m not saying he’s not a Group 1 horse but Lankan Rupee just went past and (he) sort of paddled late,” he added.

Craig Williams said the effort of Brazen Beau, if replicated in June at Royal Ascot, would see him winning provided Lankan Rupee wasn’t in the same race.

“The winner got his highest Timeform rating last autumn (here) down the straight and also in Sydney (the TJ Smith) so it was no mean feat to be running second to him today,” Williams said.

“My horse, 1000 metres, it was a little bit sharp for him but he was just so honest. He’s a lovely colt.”

Michelle Payne was full of praise for Fab Fevola, the $151 outsider of the six-horse field who finished fourth just under five lengths from the winner.

Payne plotted a path solo down the outside rail and led till the 150-metre mark before being swamped by the placegetters.

“I knew the last furlong was going to be questionable but from the 200-metre mark to the 100-metre mark he was still holding on and then the last 100 metres he ran out of breath,” Payne said.

“It was an awesome run for a horse who can’t get full capacity of his breathing. What a lovely horse!

“It’s so sad he can’t have full capacity of his breathing but he’s still doing a wonderful job and running fourth in a Group 1.

“He gave me a big thrill,” Payne added.