The Geoff Dunn-trained filly was sent straight to the lead in the 1950m Nevele R fillies final, and looked to have the race at her mercy - especially when fierce rival Ideal Belle broke in the trail as the field rounded the home straight bend.
That error proved to be the difference as Ideal Belle picked herself up and sprinted quickly up the passing lane, only missing the win by half a neck as Venus Serena gave a little extra closer to the line.
The Mach Three filly might have been slightly underdone going into Saturday's $140,000 feature. Her outstanding record has also made it difficult for Dunn to place her, as she is rated at open class.
Her last run prior to Saturday was a win in the heat of the series at Forbury Park on April 17.
Venus Serena should strip fitter for this Friday's New Zealand Oaks at Addington after pacing the 1950m in a New Zealand record time of 2.19.1, 0.6sec inside the time set by Carabella in 2011.
The Bob and Jenny Sandford-bred and owned filly provided driver John Dunn with one of three wins on the day, making for a memorable weekend after his victory on Elios in the New Zealand Messenger at Alexandra Park on Friday night.
John Dunn also saluted behind Southland mare Christy Breanna, who continued her return to form with a victory in a c1 2600m stand, and Kinscalough in a c4-c6 trot.
Kinscalough's victory by a neck over Oh Nova provided a special moment for Motukarara trainer Aimee Edmonds, who celebrated her first success as a trainer after joining her father, Craig, in a training partnership earlier this year.
The name Dunn appeared many times in the winners' circle on Saturday, as John's younger brother, Dexter, came home at the head of the field with Regulus in race 4 and Fifth Edition in race 7.
John Dunn's three wins were matched by the country's leading strike-rate driver, Natalie Rasmussen, who extracted the complete performance out of the talented juvenile trotter Wanna Play in the 2yr-old sires stakes' trotting championship.
Wanna Play beat home stablemate Arya to give Lone Star Riccarton proprietor Trevor Casey a group race quinella.
Rasmussen gained a win with Isaiah in a c3 and faster 2600m before snaring a second big-race scalp for the day behind Alta Orlando in the 2yr-old sales series final.
The Courage Under Fire gelding is part-owned by thoroughbred racing Hall Of Fame trainer Jim Gibbs and his wife, Anne, along with regular All Stars Stables client Neil Pilcher.
Rasmussen has now won with 37 of her 78 drives this season, another 23 of those 78 drives resulting in placings.
