She Can Skate made it three victories from three starts this preparation with a determined victory in the $80,000 Simpson Construction Handicap (1200m) at Moonee Valley.

After providing her trainer Geoff Wheeler with his first city winner first up at Caulfield and then his first Stakes victory second up at Flemington, the daughter of Bradbury’s Luck showed today that she has plenty of courage to match her class.

Speaking after the victory, jockey Reece Wheeler said he thought he was in trouble when Octavia got a head in front of him at the top of the home straight.

“I was trying to take a sit with her early but they just weren’t going quick enough to cross me so I thought I better dictate the race to everyone else and run the race to suit her,” Wheeler said.

“To be honest on the corner I thought she was done and they were going to run straight past me but she just kept sticking that little head out of hers thankfully.

“She was just very tough and brave.”

After beginning half a length behind the early leaders, Wheeler allowed She Can Skate ($2.90F) to travel to the front before appearing in serious trouble as a wall of horses ranged up to her outside on the corner.

Just as Octavia ($4.60) had put her head in front at the top of the straight, She Can Skate fought back on the inside with the pair going stride for stride to the line before She Can Skate stuck her head out to grab victory by the narrowest of margins.

In a four-way finish, Nadeem Lass ($12) flashed home to grab third a head away from the winner with Vicario ($21), who was on the inside, missing out on the trifecta by a nose.

Geoff Wheeler said She Can Skate would now head to the paddock before targeting a few mares races towards the back end of the Spring Carnival.

“Every time I raise the bar for her she just keeps on getting better,” Wheeler said.

“She’ll go for a break in the next couple of days and then she’ll be back for the Spring.”

Click here to view the full list of results for the Simpson Construction Handicap or the rest of today’s Moonee Valley program