The rise of Matthew Smith’s talented mare Idle Flyer reached its zenith at Royal Randwick on Saturday, as the four-year-old upstaged a field of seasoned champions to secure her first Group 1 victory in the 2026 Queen Of The Turf Stakes.

2026 Queen Of The Turf Stakes winner Idle Flyer could be Brisbane-bound for the Stradbroke. Photo: Bradley Photos.

Facing a star-studded lineup featuring multiple elite-level winners, the daughter of Dundeel produced an authoritative performance to make it consecutive wins this preparation.

She stopped the clock with a three-quarter length margin in the Group 1 $1 million Queen Of The Turf Stakes (1600m), providing a highlight for the Day 2 of The Championships card.

Coming off a victory in the Group 2 Emancipation Stakes at Rosehill, the bay mare continued the stellar autumn form of jockey Zac Lloyd, who delivered a perfectly timed ride to overhaul the favourites.

“Great ride by Zac (Lloyd), it’s just fantastic,” Matthew Smith told Sky Thoroughbred Central.

“I was happy he was on the back of the right horses, the three to beat were in front of us (Pride Of Jenni, Lady Shenandoah and Treasurethe Moment).

“We were just hoping that Pride Of Jenni had a bad day, and we were able to get home over the top of them.”

The win served as redemption for the mare after disappointing 11th-place finishes in the 2025 Surround Stakes and Empire Rose Stakes.

On Saturday, she turned the tables on the winners of those very races with a powerful late surge.

“It was a proper Group 1,” Smith added.

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

“It’s what we get up in the morning for, it means a lot to us.”

As anticipated, the front-running Pride Of Jenni set a scorching tempo at the head of the field before eventually fading to fifth.

Idle Flyer ($6) thrived under the high-pressure conditions, moving from fourth at the top of the straight to mow down her rivals in the final 100m.

“She’s always looked like she’d run a strong mile here… you’ve got to be able to run further probably,” Smith noted.

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

Inside the final 50m, the eventual champion hit top gear to pass the Chris Waller-trained favourite Lady Shenandoah, who settled for second, while Treasurethe Moment finished 1.67 lengths back in third.

“That was a proper horse race,” Lloyd said.

“For her to go into that race, it was a proper horse race against the best milers in the country.

“She can travel at a high speed, obviously is the key when you’re versing Pride Of Jenni. I got a lovely run today… and my horse delivered.”

The lightly raced mare may now head north for a tilt at the Group 1 $3 million Ladbrokes Stradbroke Handicap (1400m) at Eagle Farm on June 13.

While Smith confirmed the Stradbroke is on the radar, Lloyd suggested the mare might now be looking for even further than a mile as she matures.

Regardless of the next step, bookmakers have slashed her odds for the winter feature.

Idle Flyer has firmed from $15 into $8 in futures 2026 Stradbroke Handicap betting at Ladbrokes.

2026 Queen Of The Turf Stakes Results

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