Stakes-placed German mare Takenja has made a promising start to her Australian career with victory at Sandown.

Trainer Mick Price admits he's unsure how ambitious to get with the lightly raced Takenja this preparation and believes she will be better again in the autumn.

Now raced by Woodside Park, Takenja made her Australian debut in Wednesday's Bushnell Outdoor Products Handicap (1400m) and was sent out the $4.40 equal favourite.

After looming up early in the straight, the six-year-old daughter of Dubawi went on to score by 1-1/2 lengths over Burning Front with Bradman another 1-1/4 lengths away third.

Price expects Takenja to take improvement out of the run and believes she is suited to big tracks.

"I haven't been too hard on her. Her trial was that of a good horse, I thought, at Cranbourne and she's put it together on raceday," Price said.

"I think you've got to be a bit kind with her. It would be lovely to get some black-type on a big track like Flemington.

"I don't think I need to go too far this preparation with her, then give her a break and have a beautiful mare in the autumn."

Takenja had four starts in Europe, winning her first two in Germany before finishing fourth in a Listed race in France and second in a Listed 1600m race in Germany in May last year.