A decision to keep Flying For Fun focused on shorter distances for now has led trainer Bryce Heys to set his sights on Melbourne and a potential start in the Schillaci Stakes.
The mare, a winner of two black-type races, is being nominated for Saturday’s 1100m Caulfield sprint. This follows a notable first-up run where she charged home from the back behind Mazu in The Shorts (1100m), in a race that was dictated by the leaders.
Heys indicated that while he wasn’t necessarily aiming to head south so early in the campaign, he preferred not to extend the mare to 1200m at this juncture. Consequently, he opted to bypass the Premiere Stakes (1200m) at Randwick last Saturday, choosing instead to target the Schillaci Stakes (1100m) the following week.
“I don’t want to go to 1200 yet with her,” Heys commented.
“I’m not scared to do it, but she’s very explosive early in her ‘prep’ and I just wanted to keep her at 1000 or 1100, especially for her second-up run.
“I’m probably forced to go to Melbourne and three weeks between runs is ideal, so she’ll probably run in the Schillaci.
“I feel we’ve got a good handle on her in terms of when she really excels, and when we’ve kept her short at her first couple of runs, it has set her up well for 1200 at the end of her prep.”
Flying For Fun, by Heys’ former sprinter Spieth, has a history of performing well in the reverse direction, including a Group 3 placing at Flemington last spring. She also encountered some tough luck in the Robert Sangster Stakes (1200m) and the Goodwood (1200m) in Adelaide earlier this year.
She finished a length and a half behind Mazu in The Shorts, starting at $51 and was just behind Everest contenders Spicy Martini and Headwall. Heys was not surprised by her strong showing.
“That day was the first time, physically, that she didn’t look out of place in one of those bigger races,” Heys stated.
“It’s a shame we didn’t draw a bit softer to give her a better run, but in saying that, she acquitted herself very well so she’s in a good spot. She has improved every prep.
“They were all entitled to run home quick, but she obviously ran home very quick, and she’s come through the run well.”
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