Niance picked up where she left off her last preparation at Caulfield with an impressive resuming victory in a competitive edition of the Listed Bel Esprit Stakes.
The Gerry Harvey-bred daughter of Westbury Stud resident Swiss Ace was making her first appearance on Saturday since a perfect spring campaign.
Trainer Grahame Begg targeted the G3 How Now Stakes and Listed Alinghi Stakes and Niance played her part by claiming both Caulfield titles.
Niance was then spelled, but her earlier return in the autumn was delayed by a serious paddock accident.
“She’s done well to come back after she cracked her skull and had to have fragments removed,” Begg said.
“We don’t know how she did it, but it was an injury in the paddock so we’re all a bit miffed how it happened.”
Niance had a couple of jump-outs to fit her for Saturday and was forced to race three and four wide near the pace, but it didn’t worry the five-year-old who was too good in the run home to take her record to seven wins from 11 starts.
“She’s a gun and never knows how to run a bad race,” Begg said. “She’s come back great and gave every indication she would run well.
“It was the idea race for her and there are better things in store now.
“She’s got a great will to win this mare and there are a few options, she could possibly go to Queensland for the Healy Stakes (G3, 1200m) although with the weather there that could make it a bit iffy.”
With regular rider Jordan Childs in Brisbane, Niance was partnered in her comeback appearance by Daniel Moor.
“She’s a beautiful mare with a huge stride and we weren’t worried about being wide just keeping her in rhythm,” Moor said. “Grahame and his team have done a fantastic job with her.”
Niance began her career with Byerley Park trainers Shaun and Emma Clotworthy and was a debut winner at Ruakaka.
She then finished fourth at Counties and runner-up at Te Rapa before an unplaced run in the Listed Mufhasa Stakes and subsequently crossed the Tasman following a private sale.
She is the first foal of the Red Giant mare Cosmetic whose dam is a half-sister to the G2 Apollo Stakes winner Alma’s Fury and the G3 Doomben Classic winner Enforced.