Prima Bella set for stakes race challenge

Prima Bella relished the swift tempo of the Ranvet Handicap (1000m), unleashing a powerful finishing burst to claim victory.

Emerging as one of the season's most improved horses, Prima Bella is on a remarkable run, having now won three of her five starts this winter.

"Prima Bella's airborne," Smith enthused. "When you get a mare in form, you have to keep them going. Look at Paul Cave's mare The Mona Lisa, she keeps winning too. My mare has never been going better and I will have to look at a stakes race now because she is racing so well."

Prima Bella ($7), who benefited from a light weight of 52.5kg due to apprentice Mollie Fitzgerald's claim, swept home to win by just over a length from the favourite Amazing Eagle ($3.40). Beast Mode ($5.50), who set the early pace, managed to hold on for third place.

Despite the Randwick track being upgraded to a Good 4 midway through the meeting, Prima Bella's winning time of 56.57 seconds was exceptionally quick for this time of year.

Smith suggested that Prima Bella is a likely contender for the Group 3 Toy Show Quality (1100m) at Randwick in two weeks.

"I've got Idle Flyer resuming that day but I might split the mares up and run her in the Show County Quality (Group 3 $250,000, 1200m)," Smith said. "Prima Bella deserves her chance in a better class of race as she is in such good form and she handles wet or dry tracks."

Idle Flyer, a multiple Group winner including the Group 2 Emancipation Stakes and Group 1 Queen of the Turf Stakes in the autumn, has undertaken two barrier trials to prepare for her return, most recently finishing sixth in a heat behind Matcha Latte at Rosehill on Friday.

Also nearing a return is Smith's sprinter Headwall, who showed promise with a third-place finish in a heat won by Apocalyptic at Rosehill.

Meanwhile, New Zealand trainer Lauren Brennan experienced a successful debut at Royal Randwick, with her runner I Park winning the MyPlates Handicap (2400m).

I Park's victory was his third from 21 starts, earning him $82,500 and surpassing his total winnings from his previous 20 outings.

"Our plan was to bring I Park to Sydney over winter and look for these 2400m races," Brennan commented. "He's got the win and I think we might take him home now."

Under jockey Tim Clark, I Park ($12) fought hard to edge out Le Troisir ($8.80) by a long head, with Elle Hudson ($4.40 equal favourite) securing third place, more than a length behind the winner.

Golden Century, a $4.40 equal favourite, led into the straight but could not maintain its pace, finishing at the tail of the field.

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