Trainer Mick Kent continued his brilliant strike rate with two-year-olds this season when Statue Of Liberty filly Miss Steele claimed a valuable victory in the $80,000 Sportingbet Handicap at Moonee Valley.

With the lion’s share of $50,000 of Super VOBIS and VOBIS Gold bonuses on top of the $48,000 first prize money, connections pocketed over $84,000 for the win.

Though Kent’s two-year-old runners are usually few and far between, today’s victory was Kent’s third individual city two-year-old winner this season, not including Group 1 Blue Diamond Stakes placegetter Godiva Rock, from just a handful of starters.

Admitting they made a mistake when trying to ride Miss Steele off the pace on debut at Flemington, Kent said he deliberately targeted today’s race to try and cash in on the rich VOBIS Gold prize money.

“I’m really pleased for the owners because they bred her and have been long time stable clients,” Kent said.

 “We didn’t have a lot of luck first up, we rode her with a sit and she raced a bit keen.

“She’s a pretty nice filly; I’ve got a lot of time for her.

“Being a VOBIS Gold filly there are a few more of these bonus races coming up so I might try and make hay while the sun shines.”

Settling in third position on the rail for jockey Luke Nolen trailing the leader Romancingthestone ($2.90F), Miss Steele ($3.20) appeared to be in trouble on the home turn when she was pocketed on the fence needing to find a clear passage.

However when the run finally presented with 150 metres left to travel, she burst through the narrow gap to record a one length victory over Magnaro ($4.40), with Romancingthestone a further half a length away in third position.

Speaking after his 46th metropolitan victory of the season, taking him to within 19 wins of the current Melbourne premiership leader Glen Boss, Nolen said he believes Miss Steele still has plenty of upside.

“She needed an ounce of luck and she got it but I thought that the win all-in-all was quite sound,” Nolen said.

“She still feels very much like a novice underneath you but I think she has still got nice improvement left in her collectively with nice ability as well.

“I think they’re going to have good fun with the horse for plenty of seasons to come.”

Click here to view the full list of results for the Sportingbet Handicap or the rest of today’s Moonee Valley program. (www.racingvictoria.net.au)