Champion mare Idle Flyer, the winner of the Queen Of The Turf Stakes, is slated to appear at an important barrier trial session at Rosehill. The Matt Smith-trained mare is continuing her preparations for her next race.
Idle Flyer is scheduled to contest the opening 1000m Group heat on Friday. This race will also feature the ATC Australian Derby victor Green Spaces. This trial will be her second and final outing before she resumes racing at Randwick on August 22.
Smith indicated that the King Charles III Stakes (1600m) is the mare’s initial goal, with a potential southern trip following. “She will resume in either the Winx (Stakes) or the Show County (Quality),” Smith stated. “She’s going super. “She will probably head towards the King Charles and then to Melbourne for the mares’ race, the Empire Rose Stakes.”
Idle Flyer is coming off an impressive autumn campaign, which saw her secure the Emancipation Stakes (1500m) and defeat Lady Shenandoah and Treasurethe Moment in the Queen Of The Turf Stakes (1600m).
Her stablemate, Headwall, will compete in a 900m Group trial on Friday. This serves as a lead-up to his first-up attempt in the Concorde Stakes (1000m) on September 5.
Headwall was the winner of that race last year but has been sidelined since due to a leg injury. Smith is optimistic about his return to peak form and his potential to be considered for a spot in The Everest (1200m).
“The 1000 metres first-up will be ideal, and then he’ll go to The Shorts and we’ll see what happens,” Smith commented. “Hopefully he can win one of those and we’ll get a guernsey in The Everest.”
Other notable contenders set to participate in the trials include Group 1 winners Apocalyptic, Lazzura, and Private Eye, as well as the promising stayer Thebudgiesmugla.
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