Barbara Joseph didn’t need to be convinced about the Warwick Farm chances of Onthelookout on Saturday but a stakes result earlier in the day confirmed her confidence.

Onthelookout responded to a ground-saving ride from apprentice Adam Hyeronimus to score a half-length win in the Fernwood Liverpool Handicap (1300m).

It was what Joseph, who trains in partnership with her son Paul Jones, had expected the six-year-old to deliver after a sequence of placings.

“When I watched Steps In Time win so easily in the Breeders Classic today it certainly boosted my confidence,” Joseph said.

Onthelookout ran Steps In Time to a half-length at Canterbury last month and the John O’Shea-trained mare took out the Group Two Breeders Classic on Saturday.

In a further formline boost, the third placegetter from the Canterbury race, Star Of Octagonal, won at Rosehill last week.

Specked at $9.50, Onthelookout challenged the leaders soon after straightening before gaining the upper hand to beat Bereft ($12) with Hood ($3.70) finishing a length away third.

The heavily-backed favourite Stratford ($2.80) beat one runner to the line, ending the day on a sour note for the Hawkes family training partnership after it started in promising fashion with All Too Hard, a half-brother to Black Caviar, making a winning debut in Melbourne.