Glamour filly Samantha Miss went down by a half-head on her return to racing in the Light Fingers Stakes at Randwick but sounded a warning to her opposition that it may not happen again this autumn.A hard-fit Rock Me Baby lived up to her trainer David Payne's prediction that Saturday's Group Two race was her best chance to beat the triple Group One winner and Brad Pengelly took the race into his hands early.Although Rock Me Baby ($7.50) worked hard for all of the 1200 metres she had enough in th

Glamour filly Samantha Miss went down by a half-head on her return to racing in the Light Fingers Stakes at Randwick but sounded a warning to her opposition that it may not happen again this autumn.

A hard-fit Rock Me Baby lived up to her trainer David Payne's prediction that Saturday's Group Two race was her best chance to beat the triple Group One winner and Brad Pengelly took the race into his hands early.

Although Rock Me Baby ($7.50) worked hard for all of the 1200 metres she had enough in the tank to hold off the swooping finishes of Samantha Miss ($2.70 fav) on her outside and Glowlamp ($21) on the inside.

"It was a very good ride by Brad, he held her together," Payne said.

"This filly was very competitive as a two-year-old and has come back well.

"She's won four in a row now, she was very fit and a lot of the others were coming back."

Trainer Kris Lees had warned punters Samantha Miss would not be at her peak for 1200 metres first-up with her campaign aimed at the AJC Australian Oaks (2400m).

But even Lees was surprised at how well she finished after she looked a forlorn hope on the turn after coming out of the barriers slowly.

"Hugh (Bowman) said he didn't think she would be able to even run a place so to go within a half-head, well I'm happy," Lees said.

"She wasn't impressive in her barrier trial but she has put in a couple of good, strong gallops since.

"The 1200 metres was always going to be a worry so even though she didn't win, I can't complain."

Clarry Conners wasn't complaining either but Glowlamp's short neck third after she had to work hard from barrier 15 of 16 was hard to take.

The filly remains a maiden with her eight placings, seven at Group level including thirds in the Group One Champagne Stakes and Thousand Guineas.

"If she could have just drawn a barrier, who knows?" Conners said.

"It's such a shame to see her still a maiden but there is a big race for her."

The three placegetters and many of the others will meet again in the Surround Stakes (1400m) at Warwick Farm in three weeks.

The Brisbane-based Pengelly, who filled in for the injured Jeff Lloyd, said he would be back in Sydney if needed.

"Any time David needs me, I'll be there," he said.

"It was great to come back to Sydney and ride this filly.

"I had to use her up a fair bit early and I could hear the challengers on my outside and inside.

"To her credit she stuck on and was trying right to the line."

Of the unplaced brigade, Montana Flyer stuck on well for fourth just in front of Anatomica who also raced in a handy position, while Portillo made up ground from back in the field for sixth.