Wet weather and race programming have played equal roles in Kelly Schweida’s decision to start Octane Flyer in Saturday’s Skyline Stakes at Warwick Farm.
Octane Flyer has drawn barrier one with Blake Shinn aboard for his comeback to racing in the Skyline.
The colt hasn’t raced since finishing second to Greytfilly, now trained by Gai Waterhouse, at Doomben last October which followed an impressive win at his debut at the same track earlier the same month.
“I had individual races set for all my two-year-olds but with the amount of meetings being called off they ended up bunched together in the same event and owners don’t like that much,” Schweida said.
“So I thought I’d go down to Warwick Farm. It’s 1200 metres which will suit him and if he can run in the first four I’d be happy with that.”
The timing of the Skyline was another factor which appealed to Schweida.
“Most people want the fortnight lead-up run before the Slipper and I thought this race might end up suiting us a bit better,” he said.
“Sometimes you can get an off week before the Slipper where they can end up with small fields.
“It’s not a big field and it’s good prizemoney so why not have a go?”
If Octane Flyer wins the Skyline, connections will have to weigh up whether to pay a late entry fee for the colt to start in the Golden Slipper.
Octane Flyer will be joined on the float to Sydney on Thursday by Group One winner Temple Of Boom who will resume in the Challenge Stakes (1100m) with Brett Prebble aboard.
Trainer Tony Gollan said Temple Of Boom was forward enough for the Challenge but his hopes for rain-affected conditions for the gelding are unlikely to materialise.
