Trainer Matthew Smith is confident Idle Flyer is ready to thrust herself into contention for high autumn honours with a bold showing in Friday’s Group 3 $250,000 Kembla Grange Classic (1600m).
Smith believes Idle Flyer is a genuine black type filly and expects the daughter of Dundeel to show it in Kembla Grange’s marquee race for three-year-old fillies.
Idle Flyer is already a three-time winner in six starts and earned a crack in Group 1 grade last time when not much went right.
She got a mile back in the Group 1 Surround Stakes but was doing her best work late in the Royal Randwick test.
“She just got too far back, out of her ground and then was wide but she can bounce back on Friday,” Smith said.
“The mile will be perfect. She will probably even go further. She has drawn a good gate and shouldn’t be back too far on Friday.
Trainer Matthew Smith (Pic: Bradley Photos).
“I think she is going very well.”
Idle Flyer put together a pair of strong midweek victories over 1250m and 1400m before her Surround Stakes run and will be stepping over the mile for the first time in the Kembla Grange Classic.
Jay Ford will take over for the important fillies feature which could prove to be a stepping stone to even bigger things.
Idle Flyer holds a nomination for the Group 1 Australian Oaks (2400m) and Smith is keen to find out if she’s capable of getting to the coveted feature.
A date with either the Group 1 Vinery Stud Stakes (2000m) or Group 3 Adrian Knox Stakes (2000m) will follow if everything goes to plan in the Kembla Grange Classic.
“Every run she looks like she wants a mile and we will go to 2000m after this,” Smith said.
“We will see how she goes at 2000m and that will give us a good idea if she can run further.
“I can’t fault her, her work has been great and she is spot on.
“If she comes out good out of the race, you go to the Vinery and if she needs another week she goes to the Adrian Knox but I would be OK either way.”
The Kembla Grange Classic is supported by the A J Bert Lillye Memorial Benchmark 94 Handicap (1200m) and Smith has a great chance of claiming both.
World Alliance, a placegetter in his past two starts in town, is the $3.50 favourite for the sprint feature and has drawn ideally in barrier one with Jason Collett aboard.
“World Alliance is in great shape,” Smith said.
“His work has been good, I can’t fault him. It’s a good race for him and I think he should run really well.”
Smith also has Jack Of Aces in the Assett Professional Services Kembla Grange Stayers Cup Benchmark 68 Handicap (2400m) as well as Lyles and So You Star in the Astute Thirroul Maiden Plate (1200m).
All the fields, form and replays for Friday's Kembla Grange meeting