Consistent mare Avienus has improved her Caulfield Cup prospects with a sustained on-pace performance to win the Group Two Stocks Stakes at Moonee Valley.Ridden by Craig Williams, the five-year-old was second behind tearaway leader Viking Turf Belle before romping away in the straight to win Saturday's 1600m feature by three lengths from Belscenica and Lady Lynette.Arctic Scent (1996) was the last Stocks winner to win the Caulfield Cup and Cranbourne trainer Mark Webb is keen to give Avienus her

Consistent mare Avienus has improved her Caulfield Cup prospects with a sustained on-pace performance to win the Group Two Stocks Stakes at Moonee Valley.

Ridden by Craig Williams, the five-year-old was second behind tearaway leader Viking Turf Belle before romping away in the straight to win Saturday's 1600m feature by three lengths from Belscenica and Lady Lynette.

Arctic Scent (1996) was the last Stocks winner to win the Caulfield Cup and Cranbourne trainer Mark Webb is keen to give Avienus her chance of emulating the feat.

He said Avienus' next run would be the Group Three JRA Cup (2040m) under lights at Moonee Valley on September 24.

"The plan after today was the JRA Cup and probably trying to get a run into the Caulfield Cup somehow," Webb said.

"Whether she is good enough, who knows, but certainly today is a good stepping stone towards where we are trying to head."

Webb said Williams' ride won the day with his judgment to roll on after Viking Turf Belle who was responsible for Avienus running 1.37 seconds faster than Whobegotyou took to win the Group Two Dato Tan Chin Nam Stakes.

Notably the last 600m of the Dato Tan Chin Nam was run two seconds quicker than the Stocks Stakes.

A daughter of Reset, Avienus has won five of her 18 starts but the Stocks, her third run this campaign, was easily her biggest win.

Cups fancy Faint Perfume appeared disappointing in finishing ninth but jockey Michael Rodd was full of praise for the VRC Oaks winner.

"She's on track," Rodd said.

"She's a bit older and she's obviously been trained for something a bit further.

"It was a strong tempo and she didn't really want to run along and chase them but she made a run from around the 700 metres to the turn and it was very sharp so she's good."