Group 1-winning mare Skybird is finally set to make her return, with trainer Mitchell Freedman confirming she’ll line up in Saturday’s Group 1 Moir Stakes (1000m) at Moonee Valley.
Off the scene since her brilliant victory in the Lightning Stakes at Flemington in February, Skybird has been sidelined by a pectoral muscle injury that required months of careful rehab. Freedman said the team had put in enormous work, including physio, veterinary treatments, and shoeing adjustments, to bring her back to full health.
“We’re rapt to get her back,” Freedman said. “It’s been a big effort by the whole team to get her back to where she is now… we had to tidy up a few things and we had to work really hard to get that right.”
Recent trials and a jump-out at Horsham have sharpened her up, with a Valley gallop on Tuesday confirming her readiness. Drawn in barrier five, Skybird will take on a full field of 15 plus one emergency. “Usually, you come to the Moir and see a field of eight or 10, but I guess with the anticipation mounting for an Everest slot, a lot of horses are wanting to take their chance,” Freedman said.
The Manikato Stakes later this month and potentially The Everest remain on her radar, though Freedman stressed the priority is getting her back racing well. “We want her to go out there and race really well, pull up well and then we’ll make plans for the rest of the spring.”