Olive Beauty crossed the line third in the $6000 Wellington Boot – April 8, 2018 Maiden Plate on Boxing Day, but Lunn also owned the winner, Daliapour’s Beauty, trained by her husband Michael.

It was a major improvement for Olive Beauty, who ran a ninth and 10th at Orange in two starts for Lunn and a pair of tenths for her husband prior to that.

“That’s fantastic. I couldn’t be happier,” Lunn said.

Daliapour’s Beauty started on the second line of betting at $3 but proved the class of the field, with jockey Katelyn Jenkinson bringing the five-year-old mare home in 1:49.4, to win by one and a half lengths from Sylvan Jester (Kacie Chater, $3.20).

Olive Beauty (Paul Payne, 7) was only a neck further back in third, a nose in front of Roi Fashion (Kaylee Kirkwood, $9) in a tight contest for the placings.

Pre-race $2.51 favourite Exquisite Halo, trained by Michael Lunn’s brother Lee, didn’t have the legs and finished at the tail of the field.

Lunn was delighted with the outcome of the race, and said she thought both horses were capable of a good result.

“I’ve been training for six weeks. She’s the first horse I’ve trained and that’s a complete change of form for her.

“I took the tongue-tie off her. I thought she was resenting that, and I’m going to put a softer bit on her as well.”

Michael was just as happy with the results. He said he was hopeful of a win, after Daliapour’s Beauty had shown a preference for the long distances.

“Leanne Henry rode her at Mudgee and got off and said if you find an 1800-2000 metre maiden she’ll be winning next start. She always showed a bit of potential,” he said.

“Lee Freedman and Tony Noonan had her for a while and always thought she had a bit of ability. She just needed time.

“She was growing, so we gave her 12 months to let her develop a bit.

“I haven’t pushed her and she always wanted ground and now she’s started getting it she might win another race.”

The former jockey-turned-trainer said he would taking his time deciding where to run Daliapour’s Beauty next.

“I’m not in a hurry. The horse will tell me when its ready to race again,” he said.

“I think she’ll run 2000 or further. She’s by a Melbourne Cup horse.

Lunn said he was pleased for Karen and said as her mentor, he hadn’t taken it easy on her.

“She’s spent a bit of time with me. I’m a pretty hard task master,” he said.

“I like my horses to look good and everything to go right. I’m pretty hard on her but that’s what it takes.”