A race day gallop at Sandown was just what the doctor ordered for Skybird following an injury enforced lay-off.
Skybird has not raced since winning the Group 1 Black Caviar Lightning at Flemington in February after injuring a pectoral muscle.
Trainer Mitch Freedman said Skybird could have returned for a shot at the Group 1 Robert Sangster Stakes (1200m) at Morphettville in May, but any reoccurrence of the injury could have jeopardised spring ambitions.
Freedman has the Group 1 Moir Stakes (1000m) at Moonee Valley on September 6 pencilled in for Skybird, although if ready to race earlier, the Listed Carlyon Stakes at The Valley two weeks earlier may be considered.
“She is almost ready for a jump-out, but we just thought a stimulating racecourse gallop, where she comes to the races and gets pumped up with adrenaline, would be beneficial,” Freedman said.
“At Ballarat we get pretty envious of the trainers that get access to jump-outs and gallops at Sandown regularly, so it was good to get use of it today and we were really happy with the way she worked and the way she is coming on.”
Freedman said Skybird would jump-out in the next 10 days to a fortnight, but that was dependant on what tracks are available.
He said it was a cliche that Skybird had returned bigger and stronger, but she looks great, adding that it was good to get the opportunity to take her away from Ballarat as she was starting to ‘get above herself’ at home.
“She needed something like that today and looking at her out the back, she looks magnificent,” Freedman said.
“She was engaged, free in her action and I thought she worked really well.”
Freedman said the program remained fluid after the Moir Stakes for Skybird.
“Being a Group 1 winner, she won’t have any trouble getting a run, apart from any invitational or slot races,” Freedman said.
“So, we’ll just play it as we see it. There are no 1000-metre weight-for-age races down the straight during the spring, so we might have to stretch to 1200 metres later in the campaign.”
Earlier, Freedman had another of his galloper Attrition jump-out at Caulfield.
While comfortably beaten, he was satisfied with the performance where the entire was pitted against a smart field including quality sprinter Mornington Glory.
“His data out of the same jump-out last year, he’s gone better this year which is exciting,” Freedman said.
“I know he was a long way off the lead, but I thought his last 100 or 200 metres was good to the eye, but those jump-outs being organised with middle distance horse and sprinters in the same heat throughout the morning, probably just spread those middle distance horses out a little bit.
“Mornington Glory was out and free-wheeling and looking brilliant, but it was the right jump-out for him to be going to his second one as he’s got the freshness out of his legs and he’s getting fitter.”
Freedman said the Group 2 P B Lawrence Stakes at Caulfield on August 16 was the likely kick-off for Attrition with the Group 2 Hill Stakes (1900m) at Rosehill in October, a race the entire won last year, a likely longer-term target.
