Smith's Rosehill stakes team fronted by Idle Flyer

Having navigated a rough initiation to her current preparation, Idle Flyer is now aligned for her elite level ambition, positioning this Saturday's Emancipation Stakes at Rosehill as a vital milestone en route.

A lingering virus postponed the mare's initial appearance, compelling trainer Matthew Smith to launch her over a non-ideal 1200m in the March 7 Wenona Girl Quality, with Idle Flyer nonetheless revealing her talent via an admirable fourth-place effort.

Subsequently, she secured a barrier trial success to sustain momentum, setting up her reappearance on Saturday in the Group 2 Emancipation Stakes (1500m) as the preliminary market elect.

"We started in a race we didn't really want to start in because we had a few interruptions to her 'prep,'" Smith said.

"She has been a little bit behind. Her run was good first-up, so she goes into this race fit and well, but is she at her peak yet? Probably not.

"She is ready to go, but one more and she will be cherry ripe."

The stable faces a demanding day, with Smith also readying Portland for the Neville Sellwood Stakes (2000m) plus ATC Australian Derby prospects Eureka Rebel and Dezignation in the Tulloch Stakes (2000m).

As rank outsiders in their respective fields, the three-year-olds have track records at the trip, and according to Smith, they should elevate further across the 2400m Derby distance.

"Both look like they will stay really well," he said.

"I just want to see them hitting the line. The danger in these races is you get no tempo, and then they're not going to be suited.

"I don't know what the Derby field will be like. I thought it might lack a bit of depth in the staying ranks, and we'd give it a shot."

Produced by Smith's previous charge, the three-time Group 1 hero Fierce Impact who excelled at sprint-mile ranges, Eureka Rebel carries that lineage.

Likewise, Smith's Mountain Queen shares the stallion and, akin to Eureka Rebel eyeing the Derby, this filly boasts endurance credentials for her Australian Oaks (2400m) entry.

"The ones by him that we've got showing ability are more middle-distance horses. It would be nice if we could get one through to each of the (classic) races," Smith said.

Third-up into the Neville Sellwood, Portland meets formidable rival Barnavara, the imported European, but Smith is optimistic about the gelding's adaptation to the mile-and-a-half on wet ground.

"He has been looking to get out to this trip," Smith said.

"He's not at his top yet, but he's on the way and this will be another step in the right direction. His work has been good, and I can't fault him really."

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