Close call as Skybird narrowly wins Gilgai Stakes

Depending on when you are reading this, trainer Mitchell Freedman and favourite backers may only just have exhaled as a unique characteristic nearly brought Skybird undone in the Gilgai Stakes at Flemington.

Sent out the $2.90 market elect, Skybird looked set for an easy victory as jockey Ben Melham eased the six-year-old mare down within metres from the line. This allowed visiting Perth jockey Austin Galati and the $6 chance Smooth Chino to make late ground strongly, narrowly missing by a short-half-head margin.

"She's got a big handbrake on her and when you stop, she stops," Freedman said.

"I think we were pretty lucky that the visiting rider mistimed the winning post a little bit there otherwise he might have got over the top of us.

"Anyway, we'll take the win. We're relieved and we're happy to get the win."

Skybird ended a 19-month winless streak with this victory, her last success being in the Group 1 Lightning Stakes (1000m) at Flemington in February 2025.

"She was well placed by the team and they've done a great john prepping her up off the back of the Queensland campaign and we're thrilled to get back in the winners' circle with her because she's had a fair few hard luck stories since that Lightning Stakes win," Freedman added.

The ultimate objective for Skybird is the Group 1 Champions Sprint (1200m) on the final day of the Melbourne Cup Carnival, but the path leading up to it is still to be determined.

"We'd love to see her in the Champions Sprint," Freedman said.

"What we do now, we might head up to Sydney in a couple of weeks' time. There's some good money there to chase, otherwise we might see her on Cox Plate Day here back in trip. Plenty of options for her."

Stewards initiated proceedings against Melham for failing to ride his mount out until the conclusion of the race. The jockey, a recipient of 25 Group 1 wins, entered a guilty plea and was fined $2,000.

"She's a very good sprinter on her day but she needs a few things in her favour," Freedman concluded.

"When she can get the run like that cuddled up, she's got an electric turn-of-foot but don't stop riding her."

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