Tom Dabernig had to deal with seeing Cleo Cat beaten for the first time in Saturday’s Black Pearl Stakes at Geelong, but the Listed event was still a triumph for the Warrnambool horseman.

Tough mare Romantic Choice brought up her maiden Stakes success in the $200,000 event.

Romantic Choice had her first taste of Stakes racing in the Listed Christmas Stakes on Boxing Day, finishing fifth in the race won by stablemate Ashford Street, but had won her previous two which convinced Dabernig to give her another chance.

“I thought that her two wins at Caulfield were excellent,” Dabernig said.

“She’s previously has been a winner here at Geelong and her run at Caulfield last start behind Ashford Street, she only got beat a length-and-a-half and I knew she was very fit coming today.”

The four-year-old daughter of Toronado led all of the way to take the 1200-metre event.

The $15 chance had heavily-backed $2.30 betting app favourite She’s Bulletproof, who enjoyed a lovely trip behind Romantic Choice, challenging up along the inside but held her off by a half-neck with Pharari ($6.50) charging into third, just a further short-head back.

Cleo Cat, who was the more fancied of Dabernig’s two runners at $11 after wins at her only five prior starts, issued a challenge in the straight but had to settle for sixth position, 1-1/2 lengths from the winner.

“She presented and probably just levelled out but I thought she actually ran very well,” Dabernig said of Cleo Cat.

Jarrod Fry was aboard Romantic Choice for the victory and praised the mare.

“I was pretty comfortable with the time we had in front and the horse is obviously fit and it was going to make them chase us when I was pretty happy with the time we had in front,” Fry said.

“Just as we got close to the line, I could feel her emptying out on me.

“Any win is good and obviously when there’s a bit of black type to it, it’s always that little bit extra special.”