Craig Williams' prediction that Response had a big future will be put to the test when she resumes in the Group Three Cockram Stakes at Caulfield.The four-year-old mare impressed the champion jockey last autumn when she became the first three-year-old filly to beat the mares in Flemington's Group Three Matron Stakes (1600m).The feature win was only her fourth race start and only a month after she won her race debut for trainers Mat Ellerton and Simon Zahra at Ballarat in February."She raises exp

Craig Williams' prediction that Response had a big future will be put to the test when she resumes in the Group Three Cockram Stakes at Caulfield.

The four-year-old mare impressed the champion jockey last autumn when she became the first three-year-old filly to beat the mares in Flemington's Group Three Matron Stakes (1600m).

The feature win was only her fourth race start and only a month after she won her race debut for trainers Mat Ellerton and Simon Zahra at Ballarat in February.

"She raises expectations by the way she performs," Williams said.

"I really like her."

Zahra said Response beat the odds in the Matron Stakes as she was taking on the mares for the first time and backing up seven days after finishing second to VRC Oaks winner Faint Perfume in the Group Two Kewney Stakes (1400m).

"She is an emerging mare and went from a maiden to a Group winner in just one preparation," Zahra said.

Williams won the Matron on Response and rode her again last start when she was beaten six lengths when finishing ninth to Typhoon Tracy in the Group One Queen Of The Turf (1500m) at Rosehill on April 3.

It was her only unplaced run in five starts but Zahra said the trip to Sydney could end up being the making of her.

"I would forget the Sydney run," Zahra said.

"She was at the end of her preparation and was a bit foot-sore and had growing pains but in saying that the experience of going away did her a lot of good.

"She has settled down and has turned in to a really nice mare."

Zahra said Response had an obvious liking for soft tracks and would get perfect conditions for the 1200m feature at Caulfield on Saturday.

"She won her maiden on a track that was virtually heavy and in her trials she looks like she is getting through the (heavy) ground and loving it," he said.

"We are rapt with her and this is a really nice race to step her off in."

He said the major concern was barrier one on a potentially chopped-up track but he expects her to be in the firing line all the way.

"You can put her in any spot you want but she will probably be in the first four on Saturday," Zahra said.

Response is owned by Barry and Midge Griffiths who have had a number of top gallopers in the past including 1989 Melbourne Cup winner Tawrrific, 1992 Caulfield Cup winner Mannerism, 1992 Thousand Guineas winner Azzurro and 1994 Thousand Guineas and VRC Oaks winner Northwood Plume.