Starting from barrier three, the four-year-old settled third, on the rails, before jockey Matthew Cahill pushed her forward coming into the straight.

“I was very happy with the race. She drew well and Matthew rode her well,” he said.

“She hadn’t raced in a while, so I’m happy with how she’s come back.”

Short-priced favourite Pricing Power ($1.65) challenged the Mirfin-trained mare but ultimately finished a head behind the winner.

Bathurst trainer Paul Theobald saw Dunderry just miss out on a placing, as Ken Dunbar rode the veteran nine-year-old to a fourth place finish.

The win brought about the mare’s third career win and first since a win at Scone in March last year.

“She’s a lovely horse, a well-bred mare,” he said.

“I don’t know how far she’ll go. There is a race coming up here in a few weeks’ time which she’ll have a run in.”

Mirfin said Repentant has “her moments”.

“She’s a quirky kind of mare. I wouldn’t say she’s the easiest mare to work with in the world,” he said.

Mirfin said his mare coped really well in the temperatures that were pushing close to 38 degrees.

“That was an advantage she had, that she lived just up the road. She’s walked down here instead of going on a truck trip,” he said.

“You do get an advantage in this weather. Thank goodness we made the most of it.”