Idle Flyer has steadied the ship after a turbulent launch to her prep, realigning towards her Group One objective, where the upcoming Emancipation Stakes at Rosehill acts as a crucial lead-in.
Trainer Matthew Smith was forced to delay the mare’s debut owing to a tenacious virus, starting her instead across an unbefitting 1200m in the Wenona Girl Quality March 7, but Idle Flyer underlined her potential with a solid fourth.
A barrier trial triumph has kept her on song since, paving the way for Saturday’s Group 2 Emancipation Stakes (1500m) engagement, in which she rates an initial market pick.
“We started in a race we didn’t really want to start in because we had a few interruptions to her ‘prep,'” Smith said.
“She has been a little bit behind. Her run was good first-up, so she goes into this race fit and well, but is she at her peak yet? Probably not.
“She is ready to go, but one more and she will be cherry ripe.”
Smith’s operation has a full slate, including Portland in the Neville Sellwood Stakes (2000m) and Derby candidates Eureka Rebel with Dezignation tackling the Tulloch Stakes (2000m) ahead of the ATC Australian Derby.
Though longer shots among competitors, these three-year-olds have affirmed stamina at the distance, with Smith expecting progression to the 2400m showpiece.
“Both look like they will stay really well,” he said.
“I just want to see them hitting the line. The danger in these races is you get no tempo, and then they’re not going to be suited.
“I don’t know what the Derby field will be like. I thought it might lack a bit of depth in the staying ranks, and we’d give it a shot.”
Fierce Impact, a prior Smith inmate and triple Group 1 captor best known for shorter trips, sires Eureka Rebel.
The trainer’s Mountain Queen, another from that pedigree, mirrors Eureka Rebel’s staying promise and is in the mix for the Australian Oaks (2400m).
“The ones by him that we’ve got showing ability are more middle-distance horses. It would be nice if we could get one through to each of the (classic) races,” Smith said.
In the Neville Sellwood third-up, the gelding Portland takes on classy import Barnavara, yet Smith views the middle-distance assignment on a rain-impacted surface as ideal progression.
“He has been looking to get out to this trip,” Smith said.
“He’s not right at his top yet, but he’s on the way and this will be another step in the right direction. His work has been good, and I can’t fault him really.”
For the Emancipation Stakes, racing odds are available across various betting sites.