Connections of Skybird after winning the 3 Point Motors Fillies Classic at Moonee Valley Racecourse on October 28, 2023 in Moonee Ponds, Australia.
She might feature in the nominations for Brisbane’s biggest races, like the Stradbroke Handicap, but don’t expect to see Skybird’s name in the form guide anytime soon.
“She’s headed off to do a bit of water walking, a bit of paddock stuff, just freshen the mind and freshen the body and hopefully we’ll see her back firing in the spring,” trainer Mitch Freedman revealed.
The rising four-year-old took out the Group 2 Tobin Bronze Stakes in Adelaide this autumn, before finishing ninth in the G1 Goodwood at her latest start, where she was less than three lengths behind the winner Benedetta.
While Brisbane isn’t on Skybird’s agenda this winter, Freedman does have another interstate raid in mind for the lightly raced filly this spring, as he looked ahead to her potential targets.
“Possibly a Golden Eagle,” Freedman said.
“She’s obviously got to improve again and enjoy the rise in distance to the 1500m. I think third-up, the 1200m was just a fraction sharp for her and she probably didn’t race in a lot of clear air throughout that Goodwood. She still was competitive enough, not beaten far.
“It looks like she’ll race well again in the spring, she’s got those mares options for her if we want to aim a little bit lower.”
Sportsbet has Skybird at $26 for the Golden Eagle on November 2.
