Learning To Fly out of The Goodwood field
Learning To Fly has been scratched from the Group One Goodwood at Morphettville and will return home to Sydney as connections consider their next move.
Trainer Annabel Neasham said the three-year-old was showing signs that she wasn’t one hundred per cent, prompting her withdrawal from Saturday’s $1 million sprint.
“Unfortunately, she is a little bit off colour today,” Neasham told Sydney’s Sky Racing radio.
“We’ve just had to scratch her unfortunately, so she won’t be going around.”
Neasham hasn’t ruled out rerouting Learning To Fly to one of the winter carnival features in Queensland where the filly holds nominations for the Kingsford Smith Cup (1300m) and Stradbroke Handicap (1400m).
However, given her owners Coolmore own an Everest slot, there is also the option to spell the filly immediately with the spring in mind, and Neasham says Learning To Fly wouldn’t be out of place in the October sprint.
“She certainly wouldn’t, not with that big powerful finish on her,” Neasham said.
“We will get her home and assess her and go from there.”
Learning To Fly was one of the better two-year-olds of her generation but was injured during the 2023 Golden Slipper when she was badly checked, causing her to stumble and dislodge jockey Chad Schofield.
She missed the spring but returned earlier this year with a close second to Kimochi in the Light Fingers Stakes and again showed a glimpse of her best form when unleashing a barnstorming finish from last to beat all but Climbing Star in the Group 1 Robert Sangster Stakes (1200m) at Morphettville last start.
Her withdrawal leaves a field of 16 for Saturday’s Goodwood (1200m) for which star Perth mare Amelia’s Jewel is a $4 favourite.
More Racing News
War Machine to target the 2026 Australia Stakes
Top-class sprinter War Machine will resume in the Group 2 Australia Stakes (1200m) at Pakenham on Friday night as connections eye a strong autumn campaign. The race, traditionally held at Moonee Valley, has been moved due to redevelopment works and shapes as an ideal launchpad for the Lindsay Park galloper. War Machine...
Antino to target 2026 Queen Elizabeth Stakes in the Autumn
A strong trial session at Deagon on Tuesday will be highlighted by the return of Antino as Tony Gollan begins plotting another autumn campaign for the talented gelding. Antino has not raced since his disappointing effort in the Group 1 Cox Plate, where he finished last after failing to fire on...
2026 Golden Slipper Stakes favourite Incognito nearing return to the races
The absence of Incognito from the Magic Millions 2YO Classic did little to dent his standing in Golden Slipper markets, with the colt edging closer to a raceday return. Michael Freedman elected to sidestep the Gold Coast feature with the $1 million purchase, instead opting for a controlled trial as the...
Torque To Be Sure breaks maiden in 2026 Magic Millions Guineas, survives protest
Torque To Be Sure finally lived up to his promise with a breakthrough victory in the $3 million Magic Millions 3yo Guineas, though his success came with a nervous wait in the stewards’ room. The Matthew Dunn-trained gelding drifted under pressure in the closing stages, bumping race favourite Ninja as the...
Golden Slipper Stakes 2026 plans for Godolphin’s Outspan
The Godolphin-trained Outspan has thrust himself into Golden Slipper calculations after a commanding win at Rosehill on Saturday. After settling just behind the speed in the 1100m contest, the Michael Freedman-trained colt finished strongly to defeat Long Throw ($15) by 1-1/2 lengths, with Miss Chanel ($4.60) another half-length back. The performance marked...
Big Sky surges into 2026 Blue Diamond Stakes calculations
Big Sky’s dominant debut at Flemington has propelled him straight into calculations for the Group 1 Blue Diamond Stakes (1200m), giving Mick Price and Michael Kent Jnr the top two runners in early betting. The Bivouac colt overcame a wide draw in the TAB We’re On (1000m), travelling strongly under Jordan...
Future History too strong in the 2026 January Cup
Future History showed his class and toughness when landing the $200,000 Listed January Cup at Rosehill, giving Ciaron Maher another feature race success. The eight-year-old almost didn’t take his place in the race after heavy rain downgraded the track, but connections elected to press on despite concerns about the conditions. Ridden positively...
Unit Five powers home in the 2026 Magic Millions Classic
Unit Five announced himself as a rising star with a powerful victory in the $3 million Magic Millions 2YO Classic, overcoming far more seasoned rivals despite limited race experience. The Ciaron Maher-trained colt, ridden confidently by Thomas Stockdale, held off Tornado Valley by a length, with By Choice finishing just behind...
Mile no issue for Merrigold in 2026 Vobis Gold Distaff
Trainer John Sadler admitted a touch of stubbornness delayed Merrigold’s step up to 1600 metres, but the mare made him look wise with a dominant Flemington victory. The five-year-old was having her first start beyond 1400 metres and handled the rise in distance with ease when taking out the Vobis Gold...
Tony Gollan’s two-year-old Itching To Go in 2026 Magic Millions Classic
Tony Gollan is leaning on a proven strategy as Itchintogo lines up on a seven-day backup in the Magic Millions 2yo Classic (1200m) this Saturday. The approach has delivered strong results historically, with six winners of the $3 million race following the same path over the past 15 years. Purchased for $60,000...