But Alpha Xena was ready to give the run of the her career.

The Gary Seve-trained Alpha Xena ($6.50, Tony Higgs) stormed down the outside of the track to claim her first victory in Sunday's Town and Country Rural Supplies Pace (1,730 metres), chasing down Sporty ($26, Jason Turnbull) and favourite Feeling Hall Good ($1.85, Amanda Turnbull) in a three-mare finish.

Feeling Hall Good couldn't have asked for a better trip after running a pair of 31 second quarters to start the race but couldn't find the necessary kick to see off the two challengers to her outside.

Alpha Xena was the faster of the pair, finding her first career victory in a mile rate of 2:01.1.

Winning driver Tony Higgs said his Changeover mare, making just her third start in the space of 16 months, said a change of tactics worked wonders.

"She broke first start back then ran second last week after sitting outside the leader. But I said to Gary that we could go back with her and it might give her a bit of confidence.

"She's got a bit of ability. She's no superstar but I thought if we got back that she'd be able to get home."

That easy going opening half out in front for the favourite did have Higgs a little concerned.

In fact, he'd just about written off his winning chances when the field swung into the home straight.

"Around the turn I was thinking that we might be able to run a place but she just kept on going," he said.

"I've been working with her and I knew she could keep going, but whether she could catch the leader? That's what I was more unsure of."

Alpha Xena dropped to the back of the field from the start and had to spend a little time sitting three wide while the bunch sorted themselves out.

Up the front, Feeling Hall Good found the lead from gate two and from out wider Alibi moved across to sit in the death.

Brava Bay had the sit behind the leader and Sporty was racing close by in the one-one.

The moves didn't come until late, and they were started by Alpha Xena.

Higgs pressed the 'Go' button at the 400m mark and his mare quickly began to work her way around the field.

His cause was helped by Sporty, who had peeled out three wide to start her own attack, and Higgs was able to save some extra time in the breeze.

Feeling Hall Good didn't kick away as expected, and the two new challengers loomed up on the outside to battle it out for the win.

Higgs' mare was the better of the pair as she stormed home to make her first career win an eye-catching run.