Flying Mascot missed a run in last Saturday’s All-Star Mile but Tom Dabernig is confident the team can gain some consolation in this Friday night’s $300,000 Sunline Stakes at The Valley.
The ever-improving mare will have her final start for the campaign in the 1600-metre Group 2 and Dabernig had an ominous warning for the other 16 horses who on Monday nominated for the event.
“It’s hard to say if she’s going better than how she’s gone her last two runs but she’s certainly given no indication that she hasn’t maintained where she’s at,” Dabernig said.
“If anything, it seems there might be some slight improvement in her.
“She’s in really good shape and I think fourth-up, very fit, staying at the same distance and being a winner at Moonee Valley, everything looks good.”
After resuming with a second placing to star Kiwi mare Probabeel in the Group 3 Bellmaine Stakes (1200m), Flying Mascot won the Group 3 Mannerism Stakes (1400m) and Group 3 Matron Stakes (1600m) at her past two starts.
Dabernig will resist the temptation to head to Sydney and chase Group 1 riches with the four-year-old this campaign, citing what is likely to be a busy spring campaign with plenty of Group 1 opportunities as the reason to put her on ice after Friday night.
“I’m really keen to turn her out before the weather gets too cold and set her up for what will probably be a busy spring,” the Warrnambool trainer said.
“She can have a build-up where we’re not rushed trying to get her ready. If you want to run at Flemington right at the end of the carnival you need to make sure you’re not up and firing too early.
“She’ll probably be something like third-up in a Toorak (Handicap) and then maybe think about the Empire Rose (Stakes) again or what we do between.”
Joining Flying Mascot among the Sunline Stakes nominations are last-start Flemington winners Kissonallforcheeks, Annavisto, Barb Raider and Fortunate Kiss along with dual Group 1 winner Shout The Bar and Australian Guineas placegetter Bon’s A Pearla.
The $1 million Group 1 William Reid Stakes (1200m) is the banner event on Friday night’s card and it attracted 20 nominations, headlined by undefeated Oakleigh Plate winner and likely short-priced favourite Marabi.