Her second in the Fillies and Mares Quality Handicap is garnering considerable praise from the racing industry, including jockey Craig Williams, who told trainer Kurt Goldman ‘‘she’ll win plenty of good races once she gets more distance to run’’.

Arms Length was beaten a length by Capital Commander at the Gold Coast card, powering home over the 1300m distance.

Williams quickly assured Goldman he’d be interested in future rides aboard the five-year-old mare, whose comeback story is making waves in racing circles.

‘‘It was good to meet Craig and after he hopped off the horse, he gave really good feedback,’’ Goldman said.

‘‘He thinks she’ll run a really strong mile around Moonee Valley so he told me to keep an eye out for races down there and he’ll actually jump back on her.

‘‘It’s been a learning experience and I don’t think I could have done anything different that would have changed the outcome.

‘‘When you’re talking to one of the best in the business, it makes running second a little bit easier.’’

Originally bought by Scone trainer Paul Messara for $70,000 in 2008, Arms Length, underwhelming in his hands, was discarded to Kembla’s Louise Dean for next-to-nothing.

Dean selflessly gave the horse away to Goldman after her daughter, Lauren, was killed in a cattle truck accident near Yass. Arms Length was intended for Lauren to be used as a hack.

Goldman said yesterday’s $30,000 prize purse reassured him that his early foray into training was on the right track.

‘‘She paid for the trip up here, covered all of the expenses and put some money back in the bank,’’ he said.

‘‘There is no immediate plan yet, we’ll just see how she pulls up because the trip up here did take a bit out of her.

‘‘Once we get back, we’ll decide what happens; she might have a couple of weeks off or she might take a spell, we’ll just see.

‘‘We had a lot of people after the race congratulating me on the place and things like that.

‘‘There was a lot of high profile people around, especially at the sales afterwards, that all recognised me and the mare.’’