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As smooth as velvet

Aston Velvet and Michelle Mallia combined to win the first Group 1 trophy of the inaugural Sportsbet Dream Chasers Festival, the $121,500 Hume Cup Final (600m), at The Meadows on Saturday night.

The only female in the $75,000 to-the-winner middle distance feature, Aston Velvet led all-the-way, holding near-record heat winner Pocket Money at bay.

It was second time lucky at G1 level for Aston Velvet, which ran third in the Sandown Cup (715m) in May, with her previous biggest win coming in the Listed Pink Diamond Champion Distance Final (660m) at Ballarat in June.

A daughter of dual country cup winner Aston Kimetto, bred and raced by Ray Borda, Aston Velvet had also led throughout to win her Hume Cup heat, defeating Jarick Bale in 34.26sec.