Good enough to defeat subsequent Magic Millions winner Sunlight when making her career debut in the Listed VRC Maribyrnong Trial back in October, Snitzel filly Nomothaj burst back to top form with a stylish victory at Flemington on Saturday winning the Listed VRC Football Stakes (1000m).

With Mark Zahra in the saddle, the Shadwell Stud colour-bearer staved off a determined challenge by runner-up Irukandji to win by a neck.

Lindsay Park co-trainer David Hayes said Nomothaj will head to Sydney during the autumn although the Golden Slipper is not set in stone.

“She’ll head to Sydney. Whether she runs in the Percy Sykes or she might have another crack at Sunlight in the Slipper. You never know,” Hayes, who trains in partnership with his son Ben and nephew Tom Dabernig, said.

“We’ll have a talk with Sheikh Hamdan and (racing manager) Angus (Gold) which way we want to go.

“He (Sheikh Hamdan) has five or six qualified (for the Golden Slipper) and we’ll definitely be picking a couple.”

Bred by Love Racing, Nomothaj was foaled and raised at Newgate Farm and was a  $420,000 Magic Millions purchase for Shadwell Australia from the Newgate draft.

She is the second foal of stakes-winner Real Stolle, who won the Group III VRC Maribyrnong Plate at two.

By Elusive Quality (USA) from a half-sister to stakes-winner Chattanooga, Real Stolle was purchased by James Harron Bloodstock for $325,000 from the Magic Millions National Broodmare Sale in 2013.

She has a yearling colt by Exceed and Excel that will be offered by Newgate Farm at Inglis Easter as Lot 318 and produced another filly by Snitzel last spring before being covered by Golden Slipper winner Capitalist.