Idle Flyer has prevailed over a formidable opposition to claim the Group One prize, providing Matthew Smith with his second Queen Of The Turf Stakes in a pulse-quickening contest.

Pride Of Jenni led aggressively just as forecast, forcing the field to chase in a grueling 1600-metre grind.

From a fourth-position trail, Zac Lloyd unleashed Idle Flyer precisely when Lady Shenandoah threatened to seize control from the pacesetter, edging her out by three-quarters of a length.

Treasurethe Moment settled for third, trailing by an additional three-quarters, as Smith observed that such a Championships feature victory validated his rigorous schedule of early starts and extended efforts.

“It’s what you get up in the mornings for. It means everything,” Smith said.

“I just can’t believe she’s won. I knew she was going good, but I didn’t think she’d win that. We’ll take it.”

Building on her Angst Stakes success over course and distance in the spring, Smith set sights on the Queen Of The Turf Stakes (1600m) for Idle Flyer.

Despite a brief early setback, she regained form with a sharp Emancipation Stakes (1500m) result recently.

“Every now and then one lands, and she landed today,” Smith said.

“She has run a strong mile here, and you need to run a strong mile to win these good mile races. You need to be able to run further, probably.

“When she won last time in over the mile we thought this is the race for her, it was just a matter of getting her here fit and well.”

Lloyd enjoys a stellar record with Idle Flyer: seven wins in eight outings.

On Saturday, the Golden Slipper alumnus positioned expertly behind Treasurethe Moment, the Cox Plate contender, before a flawless finish.

“Fantastic to win on her. I love her as a horse, and that shows in our record together,” Lloyd said.

“For her to go into that race, it was a proper horse race against the best milers in the country, they’ve got a proper horse on their hands.

“I got a lovely run today in behind Lady Shenandoah and Treasurethe Moment, and I was in the perfect spot at the 600, and my horse delivered.”

Smith mentioned potential plans for Idle Flyer in Brisbane, including the Group 1 Stradbroke Handicap (1400m) in June.

The result replicates Smith’s previous Queen Of The Turf Stakes conquest with Nimalee from four years ago.

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