Favourite Red Vee Hanover held on by the tiniest of margins over his fast-finishing stablemate to get home by a short half head. Smack Dab Shannon ($13.80) was third 2.3m behind.

Siejka, who was on board the winner, thought the Monique Parsons-driven Packnplenty had got the better of her gelding.

"He was absolutely flying home. I thought I might have just held on but it was pretty tight," she said.

"He's [Red Vee Hanover] been a really nice horse. He's really suited when he's up there."

Siejka says there are promising signs from her stable as a tough season comes to a conclusion.

"They're starting to fire now. I've not had much luck over the season. I've had a lot of horses that I thought would do a good job not do so and there's been a couple of illnesses along the way. Hopefully that's all behind them now and they continue to fire," she said.

Smack Dab Shannon got the fastest start from gate three to lead but two spots wider Red Vee Hanover also showed some early speed to get the death seat.

Packnplenty took a sit behind the leader while Ryans Lane sat behind Siejka in the one-one position.

With opening quarters of 31.7 and 32.3 the two out in front maintained an easy going pace while there was no early movement or attacks from the rest of the field.

Going around the back of the track for the final time all eight runners were closely packed and everyone remained in contention as the turn approached.

Lets Go Diego made the first significant challenge, pulling out three wide to go forward from sixth position.

Red Vee Hanover and Smack Dab Shannon lifted the speed and started to get a small break on the field while Packnplenty roared home late along the pegs.

Siejka held on to win in a mile rate of 2:02.4.

It was the first win for the Red River Hanover out of Nosotros gelding in over a year, taking 27 starts and eight runner-up finishes between the two victories. The result takes the six-year-old to 10 wins from 77 starts.