Trainer Bryce Heys is keeping Flying For Fun at shorter distances for the time being, with the mare now slated for a tilt at the Schillaci Stakes in Melbourne.
The dual black-type winner is being considered for Saturday’s 1100m Caulfield sprint, following an impressive run behind Mazu in The Shorts (1100m) where she finished strongly from the rear in a race dominated by front-runners.
Although Heys did not initially plan to head to Melbourne so soon, he felt it was best not to extend the mare to 1200m at this stage of her preparation. Consequently, he bypassed Saturday’s Premiere Stakes (1200m) at Randwick to concentrate on the Schillaci Stakes (1100m) the following week.
“I don’t want to go to 1200 yet with her,” Heys stated.
“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.”
By Heys’ former high-class sprinter Spieth, Flying For Fun has a proven record in the opposite direction, having secured a placing at Group 3 level at Flemington last spring. She also experienced misfortune in both the Robert Sangster Stakes (1200m) and the Goodwood (1200m) in Adelaide earlier this year.
She finished 1-1/2 lengths behind Mazu in The Shorts at odds of $51, trailing Everest contenders Spicy Martini and Headwall. Heys expressed no surprise at her strong performance.
“That day was the first time, physically, that she didn’t look out of place in one of those bigger races,” Heys commented.
“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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