Ballarat trainer Mitch Freedman plans to give his rising star Skybird a short and sharp late autumn campaign next year with a focus on a Group 1 race in Adelaide.
Freedman is considering targeting the Robert Sangster Stakes at Morphettville on May 4 over 1200 metres first-up with the daughter of Exosphere.
The three-year-old filly was one of the finds of the spring, winning her first three starts as she graduated from a Ballarat Maiden to a Bendigo Benchmark 64 to winning the Group 2 Moonee Valley Fillies Classic.
Skybird then suffered her first defeat when third in the Group 1 Thousand Guineas at Caulfield.
Freedman was proud of the Guineas effort as Skybird was slow to begin and settled a long way back before running on strongly into the placings.
“She was tired after the Thousand Guineas and pulled up a little shin sore,” Freedman said.
“I’ll see what unfolds, but she will have six to eight weeks off after a pretty busy first preparation.”
“She seems to be spelling well. We won’t see her in the autumn in Melbourne, but we’ll probably see her in Adelaide.”
WATCH: Skybird wins the G2 Fillies Classic.
Freedman said he had a big opinion of Skybird before she had even started.
“She obviously exceeded expectations, but we targeted the Thousand Guineas and to get a Group 1 placing at her first preparation was something to be proud of,” he said.
Freedman said he wouldn’t stretch Skybird out over a longer distance at her next preparation.
“We’re thinking the Sangster is a good target for her. Most likely she would have a short campaign and then we would target the spring.”
- Racing.com news desk
