Lightly-raced galloper By The Grace produced a powerful finish to win his first race in town at Flemington on Saturday.

The God’s Own three year-old had won on debut at Kyneton in November but bad barrier manners had hampered his progress this year.  The team at Andrew Noblet’s Caulfield stables worked on rectifying that behaviour and it paid off with a one length victory in the Secondbite Fresh Food Rescue (1400m).

By The Grace (3g God’s Own – Rain Dance Lady by Jugah) impressed regular rider Michelle Payne at headquarters.  “He just travelled so well and was never going to get beaten,” she said.  “I think he can make the grade at stakes level.”

Noblet bought the winner for $40,000 at the 2012 Adelaide Magic Millions and Saturday’s pay-day increased his earnings to over $95,000 after just six outings.  He is owned by a syndicate comprising Steve O’Neill, Neville Ritchie, Gail Robertson and Mandy Sargeant.

Greta West Stud resident God’s Own sired him from Rain Dance Lady who was a Group 2 winner of the Swettenham Stud Stakes in Adelaide.  Her earlier winners include Noblet’s God Own’s filly Terpsichore.

Rain Dance Lady was bred by John Ingleton who stood her sire Jugah (USA) at Glen Appin Stud.

Jugah (Northern Dancer) was a Super VOBIS champion siring 17 stakes winners headed by Group 1 winners Juggler, Mookta and Soho Square.

God’s Own sired 13 individual winners in April and By The Grace sent his season earnings through $2.54 million on Saturday.