Press Report ready to take Flight

Press Report’s midfield finish in the Golden Rose is enough to convince trainer Lee Curtis the filly deserves her place in the Flight Stakes.

With just eight entries taken on Monday for the Group One fillies race at Randwick, Curtis is looking at the race as an easier assignment than the Rose.

“The 1600 metres is a query for most of them but Winona (Costin) feels she will get the trip easily,” Curtis said.

“It seems there’s a different filly winning each week so hopefully it’s our turn.

“My only concern is that her best runs have been at Rosehill not Randwick.”

Costin, who is apprenticed to Gai Waterhouse, had her first experience of Group One racing when she rode Press Report in the $1 million Golden Rose on September 13.

She is the only jockey to win on the filly, securing victory in a 1300m race at Rosehill last month in the stewards’ room when the wayward Liberation took her line.

Her autumn form included a second to subsequent Golden Slipper winner Mossfun in the Silver Slipper Stakes.

If she performs as expected over 1600m, Curtis will consider backing Press Report up in the Spring Champion Stakes (2000m) the following week.

Her rivals on Saturday include First Seal and Winx who ran one-two in the Tea Rose Stakes (1400m).

Earthquake, who ran third, will not be extended in distance after seeming to weaken in the final stages.

First Seal is trained by John Thompson for a group which includes the China Horse Club.

Thompson will find out on Wednesday whether he has an Epsom Handicap runner with Hooked to be sold as part of the Patinack Farm dispersal.

The winner of the Cameron Handicap at Newcastle, Hooked has remained in training with Thompson pending his new ownership.

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