Goodwood Stud struck an early winning blow at the Queensland winter carnival this afternoon with success in the opening event at Doomben.

Palmerston North farm graduate Valerie D’Amour picked a perfect time to open her account with victory in an A$100,000 maiden event.

Trained by Barry Baldwin, the three-year-old daughter of Iffraaj had placed in four of her previous seven appearances.

Valerie D’Amour was bought out of Goodwood’s Select Sale draft to Karaka in 2011 for $30,000.

Her dam is the Jetball mare Kinetic, a winner of nine races including the Listed Castletown Stakes and Group Three placed in the Easter Cup.

It is also the family of Gr 1 Telegraph Handicap winner Guiseppina and stakes performer Micken.