The decision to start Rock Princess for the second time in three days paid off for trainer Chris Hyland at Moonee Valley on Saturday.

Rock Princess was one of two mares backing up from Wednesday in the Adapt Australia Handicap (1600m) and they ran the quinella with Aliberani finishing 2-1/4 lengths behind the winner.

Five-year-old Rock Princess finished fifth in a 1400m event on Wednesday at Sandown and took no harm from the run, convincing Hyland to back her up.

"Ben (Knobel) probably got a bit too far back on her on Wednesday and left her too much to do," Hyland said.

"She didn't have a hard run and this morning she was OK so we thought we'd have another crack."

Knobel made sure he got the backmarker into the race early enough on Saturday and had the mare within striking distance turning for home.

She finished too strongly for Aliberani, the Peter Moody-trained mare who had won over 1800m on Wednesday and started $2.70 favourite to win again.

"This is her time of year. She likes soft tracks," Knobel said of Rock Princess.