Skybird almost ready to fly again

Skybird’s bid to complete the rare 1000-metre Group 1 double in Australia looks set to proceed after she produced a satisfying trial for trainer Mitch Freedman at Caulfield Heath on Wednesday morning.

In a star-studded 10-horse heat, the five-year-old dropped to the rear early before charging home down the outside with minimal urging, ultimately finishing sixth and 5¼ lengths behind Miss Roumbini. Notable rivals in the trial included Miraval Rose, Niance, and Magic Time, who claimed the minor placings for trainer Grahame Begg.

Her 900-metre outing was the first time Skybird had been seen in public since her February 15 victory in the Group 1 Black Caviar Lightning, a win that delighted her trainer. “She was super, she just sat back off the speed and joined in and was really good,” Freedman said. “The last 100 (metres), we were really happy with that. It was exactly what we needed for where we’re at in the prep and it’s going to have us in good stead going forward heading towards the Moir first-up.”

Freedman now has the $750,000 Moir Stakes on September 6 in his sights, one of only two Group 1 events over 1000m in the country. Her Lightning win over Stretan Angel and Benedetta had been followed by a muscle setback that halted her campaign after just one start.

“The team have done a really good job with her, she’s been a lot of work to get that muscle right, but I think we’ve got it in good shape at the moment and the way she’s stretched out there today would suggest that she’s feeling pretty good about it all,” Freedman said.

Beyond the Moir, where she will have her second run at The Valley following her win in the Group 2 Moonee Valley Fillies Classic (1600m), Freedman will decide her path based on how she performs. “We’re hoping to string a bigger preparation together and what that looks like will be decided on how she goes in the Moir,” he said. “We’re just looking forward to getting her back to raceday, we’ll wrap her up in cotton wool, and she’ll probably have another jump out between now and the Moir and maybe a little look around The Valley before she goes there on raceday again.”

Punters can find competitive odds and promotions for the Moir Stakes through Australia’s top betting sites.