And that win finally came at a perfect time, when she galloped clear to win the last race on the card at Riccarton yesterday.
The daughter of Librettist, trained by Nikki and Barrie Blatch at Tapanui, has not been knocking round in weak maidens. She ran fourth to Costa Viva in last year's Ray Coupland Stakes and was even tougher a week later running second to subsequent group 1 winner Atlante in a listed 1600m at Riccarton.
''We actually thought she was going to be a professional maiden but we're absolutely stoked,'' Nikki Blatch said.
''She's done most of her racing against the good 3yr-olds in the South Island, and she was never too far away from them.''
Suitably enough, her win yesterday was over the mile, which Nikki Blatch feels is her best distance.
''We haven't tried her over any more, but the mile is good at this stage.''
After 17 starts, Libetto had picked up four seconds, three thirds and another three fourths for almost $30,000 in prize money, with yesterday's $17,500 winning stake taking her past $47,000 in earnings.
''If she was ever going to get one, it was the right one,'' she said.
Libetto was shedding her maiden status yesterday, but Another Coup was putting her hand up for the most improved Cup Week horse award.
The Michael and Matthew Pitman-trained filly has finally worked out the racing game - and looks like she could go further - after finishing strongly to win the 3yr-old 1400m at Riccarton yesterday.
Owned by bakery magnates Ray and Jill Coupland, the daughter of Darci Brahma was also successful on Saturday over 1400m.
The Couplands listened to Michael Pitman's advice by sticking with Another Coup after an average start to her career.
''A lot of owners would have pulled the pin after the last couple of starts, but I kept saying with them she will come right,'' Pitman said on Saturday.
A lack of gate speed had been leaving the filly too far back to get in the contest, especially over the shorter distances.
''You can't win races from so far back - she's been flopping out of the gates and doing nothing.''
Her rise up the grades continued yesterday and ensured Pitman and the Couplands continued a fine record on the middle day of the carnival.
''I think it's the sixth or seventh out of the last eight or nine [meetings] that Ray and I have won a race on this day,'' Pitman said.
''She franked what we've always thought of her. We've nominated her for the Oaks, so you never know - we might end up there.''
''It's a bit ambitious but if we don't go there, there are plenty of nice South Island races for her.''
