Reset mare Well Rounded returned from a career-threatening injury to win the G2 Matriarch Stakes at Flemington on Saturday.

Well Rounded (4m Reset – Armilla by Rainbow Quest) defeated 2009 Matriarch winner Purple (Commands) and Kiwi mare Keep The Peace (Keeper) after jockey Ben Melham elected to stay near the rails instead of fanning wide in the straight.

“She broke down in the Victorian Oaks last year but still finished fourth to Faint Perfume,” trainer Lee Freedman said.  “She had a hairline fracture of the shoulder so she’s done a good job to get back.”

Well Rounded is a homebred for Phillip Esplin and she is from a half-sister to G1 winner Campanologist who was part of Darley’s contingent in this year’s Melbourne Cup.

Darley sire Reset has been represented by three stakes winners this season.  The Matriarch winner follows Avienus (MVRC Stocks Stakes) and Set For Fame (MRC Caulfield Sprint).

A unbeaten son of Keeper, Reset stands at Darley’s Northwood Park base at Seymour for a $22,000 (inc gst).

Esplin purchased Well Rounded’s Irish bred dam Armilla from Darley for $240,000 at the 2006 Inglis Broodmare Sale.  The mare was carrying the Matriarch winner at the time but she died in August 2007.