Obsequious produced the first major surprise of the new racing season as she swept aside odds-on favourite Solar Charged to claim the Group Three San Domenico Stakes at Randwick on Saturday.In a spring pipe-opener for three-year-olds expected to be dominated by the $1.85 hot-pot Solar Charged and Golden Slipper runner-up Decision Time, it was the lightly-weighted Peter Snowden filly who provided racing superpower Darley with its first win in the 1000-metre feature."I'm not going to say the train

Obsequious produced the first major surprise of the new racing season as she swept aside odds-on favourite Solar Charged to claim the Group Three San Domenico Stakes at Randwick on Saturday.

In a spring pipe-opener for three-year-olds expected to be dominated by the $1.85 hot-pot Solar Charged and Golden Slipper runner-up Decision Time, it was the lightly-weighted Peter Snowden filly who provided racing superpower Darley with its first win in the 1000-metre feature.

"I'm not going to say the trainer wasn't confident but it will be a nice surprise for him," Darley Australia's general manager Henry Plumptre said.

"Peter doesn't think she'll get over a tremendous amount of ground but if they can win like that it doesn't really matter, does it?"

Snowden preferred Flemington to Randwick as his Saturday racing venue but stable foreman Brad Widdup said last season's premier trainer had kept a close eye on Sydney proceedings.

So much so, he told Widdup he was concerned the state of the track might count against her chances.

"Peter was a bit worried about her being drawn on the inside but as it turned out she came out to the middle in the straight and it didn't really matter," Widdup said.

Sitting a length off Solar Charged, Obsequious drove underneath her rival as they swung for home and the daughter of Lonhro soon gained control for jockey Tim Clark before going on to beat the favourite by a length.

Decision Time ($4.20) was the first of the males home, finishing a further 2-1/4 lengths in arrears with the Queenslander Spirit Of Boom fourth and Brightexpectations finishing fifth.

The first three placegetters were having their first starts since competing in the Golden Slipper in April.

Obsequious had some on-course support, firming late from $11 to $9.

Clark said the winning margin could have been greater if he had urged Obsequious along sooner.

"I held her and nursed her for as long as I could," he said.

"She's still got a bit to learn but it's good that she can win races like this with something up her sleeve."

Solar Charged's jockey Corey Brown was almost nonplussed by her defeat.

"She just didn't have that zip that she normally has ... even from the get-go," he said.

"I've got to say she was a touch disappointing but, then again, the winner was just too good."

Stathi Katsidis said the tempo of the race didn't help his mount Decision Time.

"There was no speed on which didn't suit him," he said. "He was a bit fresh and next time he'll be better with that run under his belt."

Obsequious is nominated for the Golden Rose on August 28 but, because of her brilliance, she is unlikely to head towards the $1 million race over 1400 metres.

"Her next run will be in the Silver Shadow Stakes and we'll go from there," Widdup said.