Skybird has officially secured her spot in the $20 million The Everest, with Inglis confirming the mare as their representative for the Randwick showpiece on October 18.
The Mitch Freedman-trained daughter of Exosphere has already delivered at the highest level with her stunning win in the Black Caviar Lightning at Flemington earlier this year, and she now gets the chance to add The Everest to her CV. Before that, she will line up in the $2 million Manikato Stakes at Moonee Valley on Friday night.
Freedman said the opportunity to run Skybird in The Everest was a dream come true.
“To purchase a horse like Skybird, bring her through our system and to now to be a part of the most elite sprinting race in our country, if not the world, truly is an honour,” Freedman said.
“She has been part of the stable since she was a yearling and her success to date is truly a credit to the team around me who help to prepare her.
“She is an exceptional talent and it’s very exciting to take up the Inglis slot, given she was an Inglis purchase, and it really is a dream come true for all of the team at Mitch Freedman Racing.”
Purchased for just $110,000 at the Inglis Classic Yearling Sale, Skybird has already banked nearly $1.3 million in prizemoney. Inglis Bloodstock chief executive Sebastian Hutch said her progression was the perfect advertisement for their sale.
“It’s been enjoyable to liaise with Michael (Scalzo) through the slot negotiations and the ownership experience of the Skybird owners is yet another fantastic promotion of our business and the industry as a whole,” Hutch said.
“(She’s) a $110,000 Inglis Classic Yearling that becomes a G1 winner of almost $1.3m in prizemoney and is now competing in the best sprint race in the world. It’s the stuff that dreams are made of.”
Skybird joins Ka Ying Rising, Joliestar, Briasa, Jimmysstar, Private Harry, Overpass, Lady Shenandoah and Angel Capital as confirmed starters, with three slots still to be filled by Coolmore, Godolphin and Mulberry Racing.
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