Jockey Luke Nolen has coaxed thin-skinned filly Headway to a spine-tingling victory in the Group One Coolmore Stud Stakes at Flemington.Realising Headway resented the whip, Nolen had to resist the temptation to hit her in Saturday's blanket finish in which she scored by a nose from King Pulse with Shellscrape a short half-head away third.Nolen said he thought she had just missed in the photo-finish and said he was certain that if he had used the whip she would have lost."It makes it a bit harder

Jockey Luke Nolen has coaxed thin-skinned filly Headway to a spine-tingling victory in the Group One Coolmore Stud Stakes at Flemington.

Realising Headway resented the whip, Nolen had to resist the temptation to hit her in Saturday's blanket finish in which she scored by a nose from King Pulse with Shellscrape a short half-head away third.

Nolen said he thought she had just missed in the photo-finish and said he was certain that if he had used the whip she would have lost.

"It makes it a bit harder in a tight finish but I know as soon as I put one behind her saddle she will stop and she would have got beaten a length," Nolen said.

Owned by Tony Santic, Headway races in the colours made famous by three-time Melbourne Cup winner Makybe Diva and she is now more than worthy of joining the champion mare when she retires to Santic's Makybe stud farm near Geelong.

Last autumn Headway finished second to Phelan Ready in the Golden Slipper Stakes and she was only aimed at the Coolmore Stud Stakes after trainer Peter Moody abandoned her Thousand Guineas campaign.

"We trained her for the Guineas and when she failed to get 1400 metres it was a nice option to freshen her for this race," said Moody who also had fourth-placed Tickets and Wanted (seventh) in the feature.

"She missed out on the Slipper but she has made up for it today."

Moody said Nolen's knowledge of Headway was "a massive bonus" as other jockeys may have taken their chances and hit her with the whip.

He said Headway's whip aversion was a family trait which was also part of the make-up of her dam Chatelaine who he also trained.

By Charge Forward, Headway cost Santic $175,000 as yearling and has, with four wins and four seconds in 10 starts, already earned more than $1.1 million in stakes.

"She is a gutsy little filly but has never been unplaced at Group level at 1200 metres in her career," Moody said.

Nolen said Headway's ability belied her size.

"She could be a hand or two bigger but while she lacks a bit of size she doesn't lack any strength. She is all heart," he said.

Mike Moroney praised the effort of King Pulse who suffered his first defeat in three starts.

"He's got a good future," Moroney said.

Jockey Blake Shinn said Shellscrape was slow from the barrier but said the colt had his chance with an unimpeded run.

Irish Lights finished fifth while jockey Kerrin McEvoy said the favourite Demerit (sixth) got wound up going to the start and never settled in the race.