Richard and Will Freedman saddle up two runners in the fillies’ classic at Eagle Farm a stunning last start win prompted connections of Let’s Fly to pay a late nomination fee for the Queensland Oaks, now they are banking on the nous of jockey Craig Williams to help her repeat the dose.
The filly demolished her rivals by almost six lengths on a heavy track at Randwick last month and while the fine weather in Brisbane won’t deliver those conditions on Saturday, co-trainer Will Freedman expected another competitive performance, provided she could get the right run.
“It was a little surprising to win in that fashion. We knew she was in decent form but she really elevated herself last start and we have learned the key to her is making sure she’s not too fresh,” Freedman said.
“She just needs to be able to amble across to be on-speed at her own rate. She doesn’t want to be stoked up too early and she will run well if she gets the right ride.
“She has got to be nice and relaxed and if she is relaxed, then she’s got good upper-end ability.”
While Freedman wasn’t anticipating Let’s Fly to be as dominant as she was at Randwick, she had always shown her trainers good ability and won her maiden by almost five lengths.
It earned her a start in last year’s Group 1 Thousand Guineas (1600m) and while that proved a bridge too far at the time, it reflected the regard in which she was held.
“We ran her in the Thousand Guineas because we had a good opinion of her,” Freedman said.
“She is going to keep maturing as a four and five-year-old but she’s in a rich vein of form right now.”
Stablemate Pleasure Artist will also take her place in the Queensland Oaks (2200m).
Her recent form appears below par on paper but Freedman says she has had excuses and she does boast strong formlines from last spring, including a Listed placing and a fifth behind star filly Treasurethe Moment in the VRC Oaks (2500m).
“Her last run was an improvement. She’s had a bit of a muddled prep and she has been a victim of bad luck,” Freedman said.
“We will ride her a bit quieter in the Oaks. Cejay Graham will ride her. She has been doing the work on her and she’s happy with her.
“She will definitely run out 2200, that’s for sure, and if you do that you beat half the field home.”
