Matthew Smith, trainer of Idle Flyer, holds that her peak is approaching after the mare’s standout triumph in the Group 2 $300,000 Emancipation Stakes (1500m) conducted at Rosehill Gardens over the weekend.
“Idel Flyer is a big mare and was only second-up today,” Smith said.
“She had a little setback earlier in his preparation which just held us up a bit but she is fine now.”There’s more improvement come from her and she will be at her peak in two weeks.”
He has targeted the Group 1 $1 million Queen of the Turf Stakes (1600m) at Royal Randwick on April 11, Day Two of The Championships, for Idle Flyer, whose Rosehill result marks her as a key player in the elite race.
The mare, shortened into $1.90 favouritism with punters, boosted Zac Lloyd’s Golden Slipper carnival highlights by accelerating sharply to pass Blindedbythelight ($26) and win by three-quarters of a length, Firestorm ($19) over a length behind in third spot.
Coming off a treble that week which featured the Golden Slipper on Guest House, Lloyd notched three successes at Rosehill Saturday, including Group 1 Vinery Stud Stakes glory on Belle Cheval. Idle Flyer saw him shine brightly.
“I was worried at the 500m, she just dropped the bit,” Lloyd said.”But she was in a very tight position the whole race, horses aren’t the happiest in that position.
“I knew had a lapful of horse and she was just starting to go through her gears. I just needed the horse in front of me to quicken another 25 metres and just allow that horse on the outside to drop off.
“For her to still quicken through there, find a gap and be strong late is a real credit to her.”
Lloyd demoted Billy Egan of Blindedbythelight to second place again with his Idle Flyer win.
The race prior saw Lloyd defend a protest successfully in the Vinery Stakes aboard Belle Cheval against Egan’s After Summer.
“When I got outside Billy I said ‘you must hate me today,'” Lloyd said after his win on Idle Flyer.
Out of Dundeel, the champion sire from Arrowfield Stud, Idle Flyer was secured by Smith for $70,000 at Inglis Classic Yearling Sale. Her Emancipation Stakes score was win number seven in 14 starts, with prizemoney surpassing $570,000.
“It’s great to have a good horse like her in the stable,” Smith said. “She’s an outstanding mare, you just don’t get them like this very often.
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