Whether you’re reading this now or later, trainer Mitchell Freedman and those who supported the favourite Skybird might have only just exhaled, as an unusual trait almost saw the mare falter in the Gilgai Stakes at Flemington.
Sent off as the $2.90 market leader, Skybird appeared to be cruising to an easy victory as jockey Ben Melham eased the six-year-old mare down in the final metres. This allowed visiting Perth jockey Austin Galati and the $6 chance Smooth Chino to mount a strong late run, ultimately falling short by a mere short-half-head margin.
“She’s got a big handbrake on her and when you stop, she stops,” Freedman remarked.
“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’s win snapped a 19-month drought since her last victory 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 aim for Skybird is the Group 1 Champions Sprint (1200m) on the final day of the Melbourne Cup Carnival, but her path to that race is still undecided.
“We’d love to see her in the Champions Sprint,” Freedman declared.
“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 issued a charge to Melham for failing to ride his mount out to the conclusion of the race. The jockey, who has won 25 Group 1 races, pleaded guilty 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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