Miss Finland proved herself the best three-year-old in Australia with victory in the $750,000, Group I, Cadbury Guineas (1600m) at Caulfield on Saturday.

Sent out the $2.50 favourite, Miss Finland gave her backers some heart flutters before scoring a last stride short head victory over Casino Prince (Flying Spur), $9, with Jokers Wild (Black Minnaloushe), $21, a nose away third.

David Hayes had no hesitation in declaring Miss Finland the best three-year-old.

"She`s clearly the best three-year-old I think and she`s unique in that she`s won in all distance categories," he said.

Miss Finland was last season`s champion two-year-old winning the Golden Slipper before taking the Group 1 Thousand Guineas and the Crown Oaks last season before winning Saturday`s Group 1 Cadbury Guineas.

She`s been successful at Group 1 level from 1200 metres to 2500 metres but Hayes believes a couple of her Group 1`s have come about because of her class.

"Even though she`s won a couple of Group 1`s here I don`t think it`s her track," Hayes said of Caulfield. "I would much prefer to see her at Flemington."

Although Miss Finland has been invited to run in Dubai at the big World Cup meeting on March 31, his preference is to keep the filly in Australia for the time being, preferring to head overseas next year.

"I would prefer to stay at home and train her for the Cox Plate before heading overseas," Hayes said.

"There is an invitation to Dubai which we would seriously look at but I would look at travelling overseas in her four-year-old year because when you are four you can never run in three-year-old races again which she seems to be able to win all the time.

"It`s pretty hard to turn them up."

Hayes didn`t have any hesitation in declaring Miss Andretti a champion.

"I think she is. All she has to do now is win a Group 1 at weight-for-age against the older horses. She had no luck in the Cox Plate last year and that should be her race this year," Hayes said.

Miss Andretti is now to head to Sydney for the Group 1 Arrowfield Stud Stakes, 2000 metres, at Rosehill on March 31.

"I think she`s looking for the 2000 metres now and that looks a nice race for her," he said.

While all accolades were with the winner, trainer Tony Vasil was left scratching his head after the fourth placing of Haradasun.

"He was ridden exactly to the game plan," Vasil said. "The plan was to follow Miss Finland wherever she went and once straightened peel to her outside.

"It is somewhat concerning he wanted to lay-in under pressure. There was no foot abscess today.

"Nash said the horse doesn`t feel right. We couldn`t be critical of Nash`s ride today.

"I don`t like making any decisions on race day but we`ll certainly have to think about where we go with him," Vasil said.

Group 1 Victoria Derby winner Efficient, $5.50, ran on for fifth after being well back on the hometurn.

Miss Finland, out of the Woodman mare Forest Pearl, has the remarkable record of nine wins from 15 starts, and three seconds. Stakes for her Arrowfield Stud owners and associates are now $3,819,825.

ThoroughbredNEWS