Sweet Redemption has led all the way to claim a narrow victory in the Group 3 Festival Stakes (1500m) at Rosehill Gardens on Saturday.

The Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott-trained runner, ridden by Brenton Avdualla was able to hold off Hazzabeel in second with Red Excitement not far away in third.

Sweet Redemption ran to a new career peak rating of 106, three pounds above her previous best achieved when runner up in the Group 3 Summoned Stakes at Sandown three starts back.

The four-year-old mare ran two pounds below 2015 winner Mighty Lucky (108) who beat It’s Somewhat (118).

Four mares have now won the race in the last 20 years with Sweet Redemption the lowest rated of all four.

The Racing and Sports field strength value of 108.1 was below par for a Group 3 race and below the 110.5 of last years renewal.

Of the beaten brigade, Hazzabeel also ran to 106, the same figure he ran to when winning the Kilmore Cup (1600m) the start prior and the Ciaron Maher-trained runner is racing in career best form.

Red Excitement in third was also good off strong recent form and with the 58kg ran to a Timeform figure of 113, equal to his win at Canterbury earlier in the preparation.

Earlier in the programme Kuro secured his first win in over a year with victory in the Listed Starlight Stakes (1100m) after settling off the leaders throughout.

Proving too strong for Nieta and Princefamous, Kuro returned a Timeform rating of 113, three pounds below his previous effort when runner up at Rosehill with the big weight.

Kuro is the highest rated winner of the race since Lucky Secret in 2009 (121), running eight pounds higher than 2015 winner Dublin Lass.

Bringing up his seventh win from 25 career starts, the Joseph Pride-trained runner took his career earnings above $500,000 and has not run below 114 in three runs this campaign.

The Racing and Sports field strength of 110.5 was the highest of the day and well above the 105.3 of the 2015 renewal and Kuro looks set for a good campaign ahead.

Of the beaten runners, Nieta in second returned a new career peak figure of 107, eight pounds above her win at Rosehill the start prior with Princefamous in third also running to a new peak of 105.

The final stakes race on the programme saw Malice take out the listed ATC Cup (2000m), after settling last throughout.

Running on well to win by half a length over Beyond Thankful in second with Iggy Pop third, Malice returned a Timeform figure of 110, his highest since running second to Awesome Rock in Listed company at Flemington last year (112).

Following up two solid efforts leading into the race, Malice had not won since winning this same race in 2014 where he ran to a Timeform figure of 109 when beating Metaphorical.

The six-year-old Godolphin gelding returned a Timeform figure four pounds higher than 2015 winner Telepathic with the Racing and Sports Field strength value of 110.5 much higher than the 105.1 of last years reneeal.

Beyond Thankful in second returned a Timeform figure of 108, his highest since running fourth in Group 3 company at Randwick earlier in the year with Iggy Pop in third running to 102.