Press Box went into the race as a $71 shot - the second longest odds - but battled home strongly along the rail to stay in touch with the leader right until the end.

The Bathurst-trained mare found another gear with 200m to go to remain in reach of the group, finishing less than four lengths away from winner Handle The Truth ($7).

Mirfin said his mare was at her best against some of the state's premier country horses - a group she can now say she's not far away from being included in.

"We're thrilled with the way she went and she probably ran the greatest race of her career to this point," he said.

"The race was on from the start. They ran a very fast time. We thought she'd be a bit closer to the lead than what she was but due to the fact they were going so fast she got a bit further back in the field than we anticipated.

"The jockey was very smart to allow her to settle where she did and she finished the race off very well."

Jockey Robbie Dolan got Press Box away well from barrier three but she had to do a little bit of work early as the two horses to her inside, Don't Give A Damn and Luna Mia, also shot out with speed.

Dolan opted to drop back from that battle and settled in sixth.

Don't Give A Damn worked forward to the lead on the inside of Notation, with Star Boy and Luna Mia trailling behind the pair.

Press Box stayed glued to the rail with 300m to go, still stalking Luna Mia, as Handle The Truth started to wind up down the centre of the track.

Handle The Truth got clear of Don't Give A Damn inside the 200m but had a wave of outside contenders to hold off.

Victorem ($2.70 favourite), Noble Boy ($6) and Bobbing ($26) all flew home late but the Keith Dryden-trained Handle The Truth was too strong. Victorem beat the fast finishing Bobbing for second.

Press Box had enough left in the tank to pass both Luna Mia and Don't Give A Damn inside the last 50m, delivering a handy $18,000 prize to connections.

Mirfin has the next aim penned in for Press Box.

"She got off the bit coming around the corner but she picked up again and the jockey thinks she'll be looking for the 1,400 metres now," Mirfin said.

"That's encouraging because her objective all the way along was to try and win the Country Championships with her, and she's still eligible to do that.

"She'll have a little break now and come back with that in mind."