The question of whether exciting filly Gallica will stay will be answered when she has her next start over 2000 metres in the Australasian Oaks in Adelaide.The Mick Price-trained filly recaptured her spring form at Flemington on Saturday when she won a home straight war with the Gai Waterhouse-trained Gold Water in the Group Two Kewney Stakes (1600m).Gold Water had thrashed Gallica by more than two lengths in last month's Armanasco Stakes (1600m) at Caulfield but it was always going to be a clos

The question of whether exciting filly Gallica will stay will be answered when she has her next start over 2000 metres in the Australasian Oaks in Adelaide.

The Mick Price-trained filly recaptured her spring form at Flemington on Saturday when she won a home straight war with the Gai Waterhouse-trained Gold Water in the Group Two Kewney Stakes (1600m).

Gold Water had thrashed Gallica by more than two lengths in last month's Armanasco Stakes (1600m) at Caulfield but it was always going to be a closer race this time.

Price said Gallica wasn't "screwed tight" last start when second-up for the campaign and he would have been disappointed had she not turned the tables.

"She was definitely underdone the other day but when you want to try and win an AJC Oaks or similar races there is no use having them screwed tight second-up over a mile," Price said.

"Today we saw the benefit of a bit of fitness."

Gold Water led and refused to surrender to Gallica when she raced alongside her over the last 200 metres.

Damien Oliver, who has now ridden seven Kewney Stakes winners, said he knew he was in for battle with Gold Water and that Gallica had to dig deep to win.

"Like most of Gai's they are hard to get past but I kept a little for late and she (Gallica) was too strong," Oliver said.

Gallica scored by a short neck from Gold Water while Lamarr finished 1-1/2 lengths away third.

Price favours taking Gallica to Adelaide for the Group One Australasian Oaks on March 21 on the way to AJC Australian Oaks (2400m) on April 18.

She has now won five her 10 starts including the Group One Thousand Guineas (1600m) and Group Two Edward Manifold Stakes (1610m) at Flemington last spring.

"What we saw today was what we needed to see," Price said.

"The question is will she stay but she is out of Kingmambo mare and I'm pretty confident she will stick.

"We didn't ask her to stay in the spring but we didn't have to because she had done enough."