In a fitting result, Katie Lee's courage saw Sir Patrick and Lady Hogan's emerald green colours pass the post first in the Group 2 Cambridge Stud Eight Carat Classic (1600m) at Ellerslie on Saturday.

The bonny grey, who claimed both the Group 1 NZ 2000 Guineas and Group 1 NZB 1000 Guineas in November, proved best over the mile distance once again when shaking of all her female opposition with a brilliant burst of acceleration in the final 300m.

Adaline (Court of Jewels) and Blonde Bombshell (Towkay) gave Karaka the trifecta in the prestigious fillies race with Adaline tracking Katie Lee (Pins x Miss Jessie Jay, by Spectacularphantom) throughout and closing within a head, and Blonde Bombshell, having led, holding on for third two and a half lengths away.

Targeted by trainers Graeme and Debbie Rogerson, the Group 2 Eight Carat was the fifth leg of the 2009/10 New Zealand Bloodstock Filly of the Year Series which culminates in the Group 1 New Zealand Oaks (2400m) on 20 March.

Katie Lee, having won the Group 1 NZB 1000 Guineas and placed in both the Group 3 Eulogy Stakes and Group 3 Gold Trail Stakes, with eight points for victory in the Group 2 Eight Carat took her tally to 24.5 points, some 17.5 points ahead of second placed Keep the Peace (Keeper).

Though mathematically possible it seems as though the Cambridge Stud owned filly might have an unassailable lead in the Filly of the Year Series at the halfway mark given the great depth of classic fillies set to compete in the remaining five legs, with Katie Lee herself included in this group looking to collect further valuable points.