Girl In Flight aimed at Australasian Oaks 2014

Girl In Flight winning the Leigh Thomas Gift at Caulfield ridden by Ryan Maloney and trained by Robbie Griffiths - (photo by Steven Dowden/Race Horse Photos Australia)

Exciting filly Girl In Flight is headed for the Australasian Oaks in Adelaide in May after a last-to-first Caulfield win on Saturday.

The Robbie Griffith-trained three-year-old lived up to her pre-race hype following dominant wins at Sale and Pakenham to launch her career.

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Jockey Ryan Maloney was content to let Girl In Flight, the $2.50 favourite, to sit at the rear of the field until she reeled in the leaders to beat Collins Street ($10) by a half length with front-runner Cottonwood ($4.80) third.

Griffiths, who paid $60,000 for Girl In Flight, said she was shaping as a black-type filly, and because she was a late November foal, he is looking at Adelaide because she kicked off her racing after the spring carnival.

“I have always thought that if she lived up to our opinion a race like the Australasian Oaks over 2000 metres would be ideal,” Griffiths said.

“I don’t think the distance will be a concern, she has a fantastic pedigree – she couldn’t have been any stronger to the line.”

Girl In Flight winning the Leigh Thomas Gift at Caulfield ridden by Ryan Maloney and trained by Robbie Griffiths - (photo by Steven Dowden/Race Horse Photos Australia)
Girl In Flight winning the Leigh Thomas Gift at Caulfield ridden by Ryan Maloney and trained by Robbie Griffiths - (photo by Steven Dowden/Race Horse Photos Australia)

Besides the $48,000 fOr prizemoney Girl In Flight earned, also picked up a $50,000 Super VOBIS bonus.

Maloney, who rode the filly in her two provincial wins, said Girl In Flight would have learned a lot from her first metropolitan run.

“She would have gained a lot of experience and confidence out of that,” he said.

“Everything is pointing in the right direction and I think she has a really nice career ahead of her.

“I knew she had something there, but after Sale, it just confirmed it.”

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