But the man driving the $1.25 favourite - Robbie Morris - had no doubts that Gotta Be Downtown could hold onto the lead.

His confidence was well-founded as the four-year-old mare responded.

"It's kick, kick, kicking and wins", race caller Craig Easey exclaimed as Gotta Be Downtown beat home Shannonstheman ($10) by 1.5m to take the honours in the Stu Valentine 4 Bloodstock Ins Pace (1,730 metres).

Morris admitted the mare had her issues down the straight, but he was delighted to steer her to her second win since joining the Menangle Park stable of his trainer-wife KerryAnn Morris.

It was also their 100^th winner for the season.

"It was good to be able to win with her tonight," Robbie Morris said.

"She's a little bit lazy if anything once she gets in front, she sort of flounders, but I was never worried she'd let them past her."

Heading into Wednesday night's meeting on the back of a handy second at Menangle - having come from three back on the pegs at the 400m mark - the Morris' Gotta Go Cullect x Downtown Hollybrown mare was seen as the horse to beat.

After going from barrier three Gotta Be Downtown was fifth early, but Robbie Morris was quick to push forward in a three-wide move.

As the bell sounded the favourite rolled to the lead, relieving Shannonstheman. But the battle between that pair was far from over.

Following a 58.7 seconds first half Gotta Be Downtown led by around a length and as they hit the final bend, the gap between her and the chasing pack widened further.

As she balanced at the top of the straight it was with a 7m advantage, but Amy Rees had Shannonstheman in hot pursuit.

With 100m to go the favourite looked in trouble, but she kicked for Morris and went on to claim the win in a 1:55.6 mile rate.

Third belonged Siotada ($41), who finished a further 8.7m back.

Gotta Be Downtown now has two wins plus three second placings from her nine starts since joining the Lucky Lodge team in February.

"We'll probably just keep kicking her through the grades now and she will probably find a place at Menangle on a Saturday night," Robbie Morris said.

"We're going to Queensland in six weeks, so she might find a spot up there too."

The Morris trainer-driver combination also picked up a half neck second with three-year-old Tretyakov ($6.50) and a third with Bettor To Be Tricky ($4.80).