Denman Cup winning mare Chaste had a bit going for her when she stepped out on a rain sodden track at Muswellbrook to contest the race as the bottom weight.

Firstly she is a daughter of Australia's leading stallion Lonhro, top of the 2010/11 sires' list. Secondly she had proven her ability with two metropolitan wins. Thirdly she was being ridden by in-form apprentice Rachael Murray. And as well she had an unusual break to the normal training routine on the day before the race.

Nearly 3 years ago she had signaled her ability with a win at her first race start at Scone for trainer Greg Bennett and a group of mostly local owners including Scone Race Club president Noel Leckie and committeeman Peter Townsend.

She won again at Scone 6 months later, ran 3rd at Canterbury, won again at Tamworth but then lost form to be unplaced in her next three starts.

She was spelled and sent to Queensland in the 2010 winter and won first up at the Gold Coast followed by a second at the same course before a win and a second at Eagle Farm and another win at Doomben.

She failed to regain that form in her next 8 starts so returned to Scone last month to be retired to the broodmare paddock and a booking to Widden Stud's Golden Slipper winning stallion, Stratum.

However, back in Greg Bennett's hands it was decided to give her a few more runs before undertaking motherhood and she produced an eye-catching third in the Sky Racing Cup at Scone on September 11 which led to a decision to start her in the Denman Cup at Muswellbrook.

However, with nature taking its course she went out to the Widden Valley on the Saturday morning before the Cup to be covered by Stratum and returned to Greg's stables the same day.

Whether Chaste had a smile on her face on race day, connections certainly did as she ploughed through a heavy 10 track to virtually lead all the way in a clever ride by apprentice Rachael Murray, who is riding in fine form with 12 wins and 13 place rides only two months into the current season.

The win took Chaste's prizemoney to well over $100,000, which is more than double the $50,000 invested in the service to Stratum.