Tim Bell thought Sookie was the best horse in Saturday's Sky Racing Handicap at Eagle Farm and his judgment proved spot-on.

Bell elected to ease back aboard Sookie ($3.70) from her wide gate and brought the Patinack Farm-owned filly with a well-timed finish to win drawing away by 1-1/4 lengths from Vis A Tergo ($21) with Written Eleison ($21) the same margin away third.

"I knew I was on the best horse in the race but I didn't want to be four and five deep without cover," Bell said.

"I wasn't willing to risk it with a horse of her ability and although I didn't want to be that far back, there was good speed in the first furlong and she was able to find a good spot."

Brett Killion, Queensland manager for Patinack Farm, said black type races were within Sookie's scope.

"She's shown a lot from day dot and is the type of filly that could progress to Group Two or Group Three level," he said.

"There wouldn't be a more deserving winner today because she's run in a lot of races without luck and hopefully this will lead to more wins."

Meanwhile, track specialist Shafeeq completed a memorable day for trainer Desleigh Forster when he held off a barnstorming finish from Better Than Ready to win the Coca-Cola Amatil Handicap (1000m).

Forster won her first Melbourne race earlier in the day when Adebisi led throughout to capture the Rubiton Stakes (1100m) at Caulfield, while Shafeeq was backed from $13 into $10 and gave apprentice Kirk Matheson the third leg of a winning treble.

Trainer Kelly Schweida was pleased with the effort of Better Than Ready who was conceding the leaders a conservative six lengths start on the home turn before storming home, beaten only a length.

"They've run their last 600 metres in 33.70 seconds and he was a fair way off them on the turn so I'd like to know what his sectional time was," Schweida said.

Options for Better Than Ready's next start are the Group One Oakleigh Plate (1100m) at Caulfield on February 23 or the Listed Falvelon Quality (1200m) at Doomben on the same day if Schweida elects to keep the colt in Brisbane.

"He'll probably only have two runs this time then have a bit of a break before the winter carnival," he said.