Skybird is likely to get a shot at completing Australia’s 1000-metre Group 1 double after pleasing her trainer Mitch Freedman in a trial on the Caulfield Heath track on Wednesday morning.
The five-year-old settled towards the rear in the quality-laden 10-horse trial and swept home down the outside under light riding to finish sixth, beaten 5-1/4 lengths by Miss Roumbini.
Among the others in the trial were Grahame Begg-trained mares Miraval Rose, Niance and Magic Time, who finished second, third and fourth respectively.
The 900m trial was Skybird’s first public appearance since winning the Group 1 Black Caviar Lightning on February 15 and Freedman delighted with what he saw.
“She was super, she just sat back off the speed and joined in and was really good,” Freedman said.
“The last 100 (metres), we were really happy with that. It was exactly what we needed for where we’re at in the prep and it’s going to have us in good stead going forward heading towards the Moir first-up.”
The $750,000 Moir Stakes, which will be run at Moonee Valley on September 6, and Black Caviar Lightning are Australia’s only two Group 1 races run over 1000m.
Skybird defeated Stretan Angel and Benedetta in the Lightning, sustaining a muscle injury in the process that caused the preparation to be aborted after just one start.
“The team have done a really good job with her, she’s been a lot of work to get that muscle right, but I think we’ve got it in good shape at the moment and the way she’s stretched out there today would suggest that she’s feeling pretty good about it all,” Freedman said.
Freedman does not have any firm plans for Skybird beyond the Moir Stakes, which will be her second start at The Valley after a win in the Group 2 Moonee Valley Fillies Classic (1600m) as a three-year-old.
“We’re hoping to string a bigger preparation together and what that looks like will be decided on how she goes in the Moir,” Freedman said.
“We’re just looking forward to getting her back to raceday, we’ll wrap her up in cotton wool, and she’ll probably have another jump out between now and the Moir and maybe a little look around The Valley before she goes there on raceday again.”
