Idle Flyer targets Queen Of The Turf Stakes 2026

Warwick Farm trainer Matt Smith believes a Group 1 is within reach for Idle Flyer, but she will have to beat the best for that to happen in Saturday’s Queen Of The Turf Stakes at Randwick.

There are five mares that have already climbed the Group 1 mountain, with Pride Of Jenni and Treasurethe Moment having done it four times, while favourite Lady Shenandoah has three top-level wins.

“She is a good mare [Idle Flyer], but this is called The Championships for a reason, and when you see those horses in the race you see why,” Smith said. “We have targeted this race, but it’s very strong, and she needs to be at her best, which I think she is.”

Smith’s Dundeel mare added a Group 2 to her resumé last start in the Emancipation Stakes and started favourite for the Empire Rose Stakes at Flemington in the spring, where punters gravitated to the emerging mare.

“She got caught three-wide that day and had no luck. She is much better than that, and I think having Zac Lloyd riding is a big advantage for us because he just gets on with her so well,” Smith said.

“It was always going to be third-up into this race, and the preparation to this race could not have gone better.”

“Even though she was well backed first-up [in the Wenona Girl Quality over 1200m], I thought she would struggle against the sprinters at that trip. I thought the way she found the line was perfect.”

“She took improvement from that and won the Emancipation.”

“I think the mile is her best trip because she can relax and take a sit and use her strength late.”

Lloyd has had seven rides for six wins on Idle Flyer, with the only defeat being her fourth in the Wenona Girl. He will be able to use the perfect draw of gate four to be where he wants in the run.

“I think it sets up for her really well with Pride Of Jenni putting the speed on, and it is the best we have had her,” Smith said.

“She has been a mare who just needed that bit of time. She was showing how good she was in the spring, but she is a much better horse now.”

Idle Flyer is a $6.50 chance behind favourite Lady Shenandoah at $3.90, Treasurethe Moment at $4 and Pride Of Jenni at $4.60.

Smith will be looking to go one better than he did with last week’s Australian Derby runner-up Dezignation and will also saddle Mountain Queen in the Australian Oaks on Saturday.

“Like last week in the Derby, we are very confident she will stay the 2400m and not many of them will in the Oaks,” Smith said. “She could be a sneaky hope.”