In Flight targeted to go the distance
Victory on Dec 21 at Randwick will set her up for a Listed sprint on New Year’s Day
SYDNEY - Trainer Joe Pridehas no doubtIn Flighthas the potential to develop into a stakes-class sprinter and the mare will be given an opportunity to earn her way back into that grade via a benchmark race at Randwick.
The four-year-old had her first taste of black-type level in the ListedStarlight Stakes(1,100m) last start, when she finished a solid fourth behind all-the-way winnerEagle Nest.
On Dec 21, she lines up in the Toyota Forklifts Handicap (1,100m) where a victory will earn her a shot at the ListedCanterbury Sprint(1,200m) on Jan 1.
“One hundred per cent she is a stakes-grade horse in the making, it’s just a matter of when she gets there,” said Pride.
“It’s a good, even field on Saturday and it will be a tough race to win, but she is a nice horse on the way up.
“I thought if she could win on Saturday she could go to the Listed race on New Years’ Day, but she will need to be winning to go there.”
In Flight has been relatively lightly raced and has built an impressive record of five wins from 11 starts.
She has finished runner-up at her only two appearances on firm ground, while her victories have all come on rain-affected tracks.
Pride believes she is advantaged in the wet. While she will not get those conditions at Randwick, which is rated good, he is more concerned about her wide gate.
“Her big weapon is probably her ability to handle wet tracks and that’s why I ran her in that stakes race first-up,” he said.
“But she is still effective on the dry and she’ll go well on Saturday, although she has a tricky draw.”
Pride also hasAccreditedstepping up to Dec 21 grade in theTABHandicap (1,300m) following his convincing three-length win at Warwick Farm.
He also has an awkward gate (12) and is likely to press forward.
“He was impressive the other day. He now needs to make that transition to Saturday grade but he looks like he’s got what it takes. I’m happy with him,” said Pride.
StablemateThe Replicantis an acceptor for the same race but is likely to be saved for another assignment on Dec 26.
SKYRACINGWORLD
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