Star mare Ideal Bliss sprinted over the top of her rivals to clinch the $50,000 Group 2 Collins Homes Granny Smith Stakes in Devonport on Sunday night.
The American Ideal - Blissfull Grace four-year-old mare was saved for one last crack at the leaders by master reinsman Ricky Duggan, however the Hall OF Fame driver was quick to credit the win to the daring moves made during the week by trainer Paul Hill.
"Smiley (Paul Hill) made some courageous moves in the last few days, we were disappointed with her run in the Prelude so he decided to take most of the head gear off her that she has worn for the majority of her career," Duggan said.
"It was a bold decision leading into a Group 2 but it turned out to be the winning move because she could see me and when she saw me draw the persuader and hover it over her she really fired."
The pace was on from the start with the Todd Rattray-trained and driven Bremusa taking the early lead, however Ray Pullen, the trainer-driver of Brystabella had other ideas.
With the Prelude victory fresh in his mind Pullen again made an early move in an attempt to find the lead but this time became locked in a two-horse war with the favourite, in the meantime, Duggan was sitting back smoking the cherry.
"I thought Ray (Pullen) might go early again after his successful move in the Prelude, but it's a different story over 2665 metres so I sat back and let them go at each other before getting a good cart into it," said Ricky.
"Ideal Bliss won the Evicus as a two-year-old and then ran a brave second to Nostra Beach in the Bandbox last season, so I knew she had the class to win and when I stoked her up she went to them quickly and although she has a tendency to switch off when she hits the front she went to the line strongly tonight to bring up her eleventh win from 21 starts."
