A bold move by trainer Matthew Smith has paid off handsomely, with Prima Bella claiming the Toy Show Quality at Randwick after the mare took on and defeated stronger company.

Smith decided to elevate the six-year-old into Group 3 racing following two consecutive benchmark race victories at Flemington and Randwick, unsure if the mare was ready for the step up.

Prima Bella ($5.50) proved her class, racing just off the speed and finding a determined kick in the straight to win by a long head from Stardom ($16). The Flight Stakes winner, Apocalyptic ($2.50 favourite), made ground late for third, a further three-quarters of a length back. Those looking at the best horse racing betting sites saw Prima Bella upset the favourite.

The trainer praised jockey Kerrin McEvoy for his proactive ride, noting that Prima Bella’s significant weight advantage over Group 1 horses Apocalyptic and Savvy Hallie, who finished last and was the race’s major disappointment, was well exploited.

“Kerrin took the initiative and took luck out of it,” McEvoy said.

“You just had to make it run so the better horses were vulnerable with the weight. That’s how you had to run it, and Kerrin rode it beautifully.”

This was Prima Bella’s sixth start this campaign, which began in May. Smith has continued to manage her racing with short spells in the paddock, a strategy he intends to maintain.

While he has not planned beyond Saturday’s Toy Show Quality (1100m), he is keen for the mare to continue racing while she is in such excellent form.

“No. That was it. I didn’t go any further. This was her grand final so it’s bloody great it has worked out,” Smith said.

“She will go up to the farm on Monday, she’ll be out in a paddock and work on a sand track up there for a week like she did this time. Nothing special, just keep her ticking over.

“Until she puts her flag up and says, I’ve had enough, we’ll keep going.”

Nash Rawiller stated that Savvy Hallie failed to show her usual fight and suggested there would be a genuine reason for her poor performance.

“Just concerning she was the first horse beaten,” Rawiller said.

“The first thing that came to my mind was that it might be atrial fibrillation.”

Tommy Berry cautioned punters against writing off Apocalyptic, explaining that the quick sectionals run by the leaders made it extremely difficult for horses further back to catch them.

“They ran home in 33.7 (seconds) so it is very hard to catch them when they’re doing that. She’s done a good job,” Berry said.

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