Joe Pride’s resolve to chase wet tracks for smart sprinter In Flight resulted in a recent trip to Queensland but he hasn’t had to venture so far afield this week.
The mare will take her place in the feature race at Randwick on Saturday, the Listed Bob Charley AO Stakes (1100m), and with the surface rated a heavy 9 it should be run in conditions she will relish.
“We didn’t even have to chase the wet track, it came to us,” Pride said.
“She is such a nice mare and just a really good wet tracker and she will get that again on Saturday.”
In Flight has built a handy race record with six wins and five placings from her 16 starts.
All of her victories have been on rain-affected ground, including her most significant when she broke through at black-type level in the Listed Bright Shadow Stakes (1110m) on a heavy track at Doomben last month.
Prior to that she was runner-up to barn mate Dragonstone in the Hawkesbury Gold Rush (1100m), so Saturday’s return to open company from fillies’ and mares grade holds no fears for her trainer.
“She is a tough little mare,” Pride said.
“I do feel she is still on the way up. She’s got the right balance of being a tart but is still able to focus when she has to. She is a lovely horse to work with.
“She has come back really well and she will be hard to beat.”
Tanglewood is an early scratching from the Bob Charley Stakes, leaving a field of 14, although two-time Kosciuszko winner Front Page and Takeover Target Stakes victor Barber are both dual acceptors for the Group 2 Moreton Cup (1200m) at Eagle Farm.
