A return to turf racing has enabled well-bred filly Pure Emotion to break her maiden status at Moonee Valley.

Pure Emotion was well supported before the Friends Of Epworth Handicap on Saturday but had to work hard to defeat rank outsider Magic Mila.

Ridden by Daniel Stackhouse, Pure Emotion ($4.60) scored by a long neck from Magic Mila ($151) with the $3.80 favourite Josephine Sea three-quarters of a length away in third.

Trainer Clinton McDonald said the filly was not suited to the synthetic track at Geelong, where she was narrowly beaten on June 2.

"Daniel said she didn't really like the track and didn't let down," McDonald said.

"We brought her out here on Tuesday and she galloped really well, which gave us a lot of confidence."

Pure Emotion made her debut at Moonee Valley last October finishing fifth to Azezel in October before running second to the classy Tulip, again at the track, in December.

McDonald said an early spring target could be the Group Three Quezette Stakes at Caulfield in August.

"She's an Exceed And Excel that's well bred and obviously we'd love to get some black type somewhere with her," McDonald said.

"But at this time we'll try and get some prize money in the bank.

"If we aim for something in the spring, maybe it could be the Quezette, with her having fitness on side while the others are resuming and not quite as fit."