Last-start stakeswinner Skyerush will spearhead Guy Walter’s Melbourne Cup week assault when she lines up in Saturday’s Group One Myer Classic.
Skyerush will be one of three Walter-trained mares in action during the four meetings of Cup week, while Epsom Handicap fourth placegetter Willy Jimmy is also in line to run in Saturday week’s Group One Emirates Stakes.
Skyerush earned her crack at the Myer Classic (1600m) at Flemington by winning the Listed Belle Of The Turf Stakes over the same distance at Gosford on October 16.
Walter, who has had a successful month which started with two Group One wins on Super Saturday at Randwick, can’t fault Skyerush but realises the difficult task at hand running against the likes of More Joyous under the weight-for-age conditions of the fillies and mares feature.
“Is she up to weight-for-age grade, that would be the question,” Walter said.
“We intend running her on Saturday and then perhaps backing her up in the Matriarch Stakes.
“She’s in great form and she’s settled in well in Melbourne.”
Skyerush was at $21 on TAB Sportsbet on Thursday with five-time Group One winner More Joyous favourite at $2.50.
Six-year-old Skyerush hasn’t been out of the placings in her past five starts, all at Listed level, including all three runs this preparation.
The daughter of Super Jet flashed home for second to More Strawberries in the Tibbie Stakes at Newcastle first-up before a second-up third to Little Surfer Girl in the Angst Stakes at Rosehill.
Walter had also nominated last-start Randwick winner Foxstar for the Myer Classic but she has been saved to run in a $100,000 mares’ event over 1700m on Tuesday with Hugh Bowman booked for the ride.
The Warwick Farm-based trainer said Foxstar could also run in the Group Two Matriarch Stakes (2000m) on a quick back up on Saturday week.
“And we’ve also got Balmont running up the straight over 1100 metres in a Listed race for mares next Thursday,” Walter said.
Balmont resumed from a spell at Randwick on October 15 and dived through late on to take out the Listed Nivison Stakes (1200m).
AAP TURF
