AN upset was on the cards during Monday's Happy 40th Birthday Matt Murphy Stakes (450 metres) at Kennerson Park before Norman's Girl arrived on the scene.
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Arrogant Bobby ($41, Len Haaring) survived the typical chaotic start the Bathurst 450 metre distance often provides, using the inside start to get an early break on the field.
But Woodstock trainer Darren Wort's Norman's Girl ($6) wasn't going to let him get away that easily.
The pair had emerged at the front of the field after a clunky start to Monday's race, which saw favourite Double Active ($3, John Mathias) spat out to the back of the field after being squeezed on the opening turn.
Arrogant Bobby gained a couple of lengths over Norman's Girl going onto the back straight, while Galliano Girl ($10, Amanda Ginn) came across to sit third.
Only one of the leading trio were capable of winning the race at the halfway point - and it was at that stage Norman's Girl signalled it would be her.
She sprinted by the gallant Arrogant Bobby who simply couldn't match the class of the better-fancied rival.
Norman's Girl didn't just edge ahead, she flew well clear of the competition to record a seven length win in a time of 25.88 seconds.
Victory delighted Wort, who said it was nice to see his runner get off to a stronger start from the boxes.
"She's been missing the starts a bit and getting jammed up. They'd run 10 metres and it'd be all over for her," he said.
"I'll nominate her for a 500 metre race here on Friday and we'll see how she goes in that one."