Queensland filly Cellargirl on Flight path

Trainer Kelly Schweida is confident he made the right decision by missing the Golden Rose to run Cellargirl in the Group One Flight Stakes (1600m) against her own sex.

Schweida had Shogun Sun in the Group One Golden Rose (1400m) won by Trapeze Artist at Rosehill on Saturday and he was well beaten after striking early trouble.

He originally had the Rose in mind for Cellargirl but switched her campaign after she indicated to him she would be best at 1600m.

Cellargirl had an interrupted winter campaign when she injured a leg on a walker after winning a Listed race at Doomben in July.

Schweida took her along slowly and she won first-up at Doomben and has gradually built up to her top in recent weeks.

“She ran a very fast final sectional in that first-up run because she was a mile off them. She then ran another good sectional when she was second at Doomben again over 1350 metres,” Schweida said.

He still had the Golden Rose at the back of his mind for Cellargirl when he took her to Sydney to run in the Group Two Tea Rose Stakes at Rosehill two weeks ago.

Cellargirl came from well back in the field to finish third behind Alizee and Champagne Cuddles who are both nominated for Saturday’s Flight.

“Michael (Walker) said the horse he thought would lead missed the start and his plan to follow it went out the window,” Schweida said.

“He said he got too far back and while she was travelling well the whole way, she was too far back in the straight.”

“Michael felt it was a very good run and he was keen to ride her in the Flight Stakes.”

There were 11 entries taken on Monday for the Flight with Champagne Cuddles scheduled to back up from her second in the Golden Rose.