Oaks-bound filly Adrift has caused a major upset in the Light Fingers Stakes at Randwick, relegating Group One winner First Seal to second place.

Few Gai Waterhouse-trained horses start as outsiders but Adrift was the least fancied in Saturday's field of classy field at $41, although as much as $101 was offered.

Despite the price, Waterhouse said she had been confident the filly would run a bold race.

Tye Angland produced Adrift in the straight and she fended off the favourite First Seal ($3.70) by three-quarters of a length.

Slightly Sweet ($31) raced above expectations to finish a neck third with Sires' Produce Stakes winner Peggy Jean fourth and Golden Slipper winner Mossfun sixth.

"We were going to run her in a barrier trial but I thought why not run her here today instead," Waterhouse said.

"It's her home track. The 1200 (metres) here is more like 1300 metres which suits her. She has a flowing stride.

"She will go on a traditional path to the Oaks.I want to knock off both Oaks, here and in Queensland.

"She is all class."

Adrift is owned by a high-powered group which includes John Camilleri, Coolmore Stud and Demi O'Byrne.

Coolmore representative James Bester said the decision to run her in the Light Fingers was inspired.

"That encapsulates the genius of Gai Waterhouse," he said.

"And it is the first time she has jumped on terms with the field which helped."

Adrift, the latest in the long list of stakes winners by the now-retired Zabeel, cost $370,000 at the New Zealand yearling sale.

Her Group Two win was her third victory from just four starts and she will face much the same field when she lines up in the Surround Stakes (1400m) at Warwick Farm in two weeks.