Group 1 winner Skybird trials at Caulfield ahead of spring return
Lightning Stakes winner Skybird continued her preparation for another first-up crack at a Group 1 target at Wednesday's Caulfield Heath trials.
The Mitch Freedman-trained mare won the Lightning Stakes first-up down the Flemington straight in February but pulled up lame after her maiden Group 1 triumph, ending her autumn preparation.
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Freedman has aimed the now five-year-old at next month's Group 1 Moir Stakes at The Valley.
John Allen rode the daughter of Exosphere in a trial on the Caulfield Heath track in which Skybird finished five lengths from the winner Miss Roumbini.
Allen said he was pleased with Skybird's first public appearance for six months.
'She went well enough,' Allen said.
'We weren't out there to do too much so she did everything she was asked.'
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Allen said Skybird would love soft conditions for the $750,000 Moir Stakes on September 6.
'She likes a bit of wet ground too, so if she happens to get a bit of rain or something like that for The Valley, that would certainly help,' Allen said.
Retirements of sprint stars such as Bella Nipotina and attractive Sydney sprints are again likely to split the nation's shortcourse elite in the spring.
Allen said the current sprint picture could lead to more Group triumphs for Skybird, including at Flemington.
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'They're probably an even bunch this season,' Allen said.
'She was quite dynamic up the straight (in the Lightning Stakes).
'Things did set up nicely for her (in the Lightning Stakes) but she still won impressively.
'Hopefully she can go on from that this prep.'
Originally published as Group 1 Lightning Stakes winner Skybird trials at Caulfield ahead of spring return
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