MILLIE May had shown potential over her first five starts without a win but all she needed was to get out of the boxes well.
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On Monday's meeting at Kennerson Park she finally got off to the sharp start she needed.
Millie May ($3.40 favourite) had a challenging draw in box four to contend with in the GBOTA Welcome Maiden (307 metres) but thanks to a quick dash over the opening strides she avoided any trouble.
Ray Tyquin's White Boots ($13), who started to her outside, loomed as the biggest danger.
White Boots managed to get right on the tail of Millie May on the turn for home but the leader gained some late ground to win by 1.75 lengths.
Rocky Mountain ($10, Greg McAlister) was third.
The time was 17.94.
For the winning trainer it was a welcome sight to see his bitch finally showcase what she could do when she can find the front early.
"She's been racing with not much luck and she's still very immature," Steedman said.
"She tends to run up the back of the other dogs but today, when she got on the hare, that was the difference.
"Her starts have been where she's been getting herself into trouble during her other races.
"She might go to 400m later on but at the moment she's looking like a nice 300m bitch. I've got her sister and she's won a couple but they're still on country class at the moment."
Meanwhile, the following race saw Ray Smith claim a rare trifecta with Daisy's Gold, Daisy's Chase and Daisy's Fernando.