Skybird’s place in this year’s The Everest is secure after the explosive mare was on Thursday confirmed as a starter in the $20 million sprint.
The Mitch Freedman-trained five-year-old will represent Inglis, the sales company who offered her as a yearling, in the October 18 event over 1200 metres at Randwick.
A brilliant winner of this year’s Black Caviar Lightning at Flemington, the daughter of Exosphere will chase a second Group 1 success in Friday night’s $2 million Manikato Stakes at Moonee Valley and Freedman is thrilled she will get a chance to perform on The Everest stage.
“To purchase a horse like Skybird, bring her through our system and to now to be a part of the most elite sprinting race in our country, if not the world, truly is an honour,” Freedman said.
“She has been part of the stable since she was a yearling and her success to date is truly a credit to the team around me who help to prepare her.
“She is an exceptional talent and it’s very exciting to take up the Inglis slot, given she was an Inglis purchase, and it really is a dream come true for all of the team at Mitch Freedman Racing.
“We are looking forward to taking her to Randwick to have her compete with some of the best sprinters in the world and I think she is more than capable of making her presence felt.”
Skybird is yet another success story for Inglis Classic Sale, the offering at which Freedman paid $110,000 for Skybird in 2022.
Inglis Bloodstock chief executive Sebastian Hutch said Skybird, who carries the Scalzo family colours, had been on his team’s radar since her Lightning win.
“It’s been enjoyable to liaise with Michael (Scalzo) through the slot negotiations and the ownership experience of the Skybird owners is yet another fantastic promotion of our business and the industry as a whole,” Hutch said.
“(She’s) a $110,000 Inglis Classic Yearling that becomes a G1 winner of almost $1.3m in prizemoney and is now competing in the best sprint race in the world.
“It’s the stuff that dreams are made of.”
Just three spots remain in this year’s 12-horse event with Skybird the second confirmed runner in the space of 24 hours following James Harron’s deal with Yulong and Chris Waller to have Angel Capital run in his slot.
Ka Ying Rising, Joliestar, Briasa, Jimmysstar, Private Harry, Overpass and Skybird’s Manikato Stakes rival Lady Shenandoah are the other horses confirmed for the race.
Coolmore, Godolphin and Mulberry Racing are the slot-holders yet to announce their representatives.
