Nerve Not Verve (NZ) (Shocking) swung her form around at Sandown Lakeside on Wednesday, leaving an interrupted preparation behind by winning the Ladbrokes Easy Form Handicap (2100m) for fillies and mares.

Trainer Michael Moroney wanted to campaign Nerve Not Verve during the Queensland Winter Carnival but a series of setbacks impacted her form this campaign, resulting in four unplaced efforts, which saw her remain stabled at Flemington.

Moroney was consequently delighted to see the five-year-old mare by 2009 Melbourne Cup winner Shocking return to form as Mark Zahra made full use of an apparent on-pace advantage. 

Nerve Not Verve ($8.50) raced outside the leader Mostly Sunny (Akeed Mofeed) ($12) before moving into the lead on straightening and fending off the persistent challenge of Perennial (NZ) (Per Incanto) ($5 favourite) by a head with Pres de Toi (Helmet) ($26) a half-length away in third.

Nerve Not Verve was purchased as a yearling by bloodstock agent Bruce Perry out of Curraghmore’s 2017 New Zealand Bloodstock draft and is raced by a group of owners that includes Lib Petagna.

She started her career out of Moroney’s Matamata barn where she was a winner over 2100m and placed on a further three occassions.