Trainer Bryce Heys has decided to keep Flying For Fun at shorter distances for the time being, with the mare now being aimed at the Schillaci Stakes in Melbourne.
The dual stakes winner is set to be nominated for Saturday’s 1100m Caulfield sprint after an eye-catching second-up effort behind Mazu in The Shorts (1100m), where she made significant ground from the tail of the field in a race dominated by on-pace runners.
While Heys wasn’t necessarily looking to travel south so soon, he explained that he did not want to push the mare beyond 1200m at this stage of her campaign. This led to the decision to skip Saturday’s Premiere Stakes (1200m) at Randwick and focus on the Schillaci Stakes (1100m) a week later.
“I don’t want to go to 1200 yet with her,” Heys said.
“I’m not scared to do it, but she’s very explosive early in her ‘prep’ and I just wanted to keep her at 1000 or 1100, especially for her second-up run.
“I’m probably forced to go to Melbourne and three weeks between runs is ideal, so she’ll probably run in the Schillaci.
“I feel we’ve got a good handle on her in terms of when she really excels, and when we’ve kept her short at her first couple of runs, it has set her up well for 1200 at the end of her prep.”
By Heys’ former sprinter Spieth, Flying For Fun has a proven record in the opposite direction, having placed at Group 3 level at Flemington last spring. She also had an unlucky run in both the Robert Sangster Stakes (1200m) and the Goodwood (1200m) in Adelaide earlier this year.
She finished 1-1/2 lengths behind Mazu in The Shorts as a $51 chance, just behind Everest contenders Spicy Martini and Headwall, and Heys was not surprised by her performance.
“That day was the first time, physically, that she didn’t look out of place in one of those bigger races,” Heys remarked.
“It’s a shame we didn’t draw a bit softer to give her a better run, but in saying that, she acquitted herself very well so she’s in a good spot. She has improved every prep.
“They were all entitled to run home quick, but she obviously ran home very quick, and she’s come through the run well.”
Betting sites are offering competitive racing odds for the Schillaci Stakes.