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By Ray Hickson

In Flight was one of the finds of the winter as she shot through the grades on wet tracks and jockey Jay Ford is looking forward to seeing what she can produce in her biggest test at Rosehill on Saturday.

Jockey Jay Ford (Pic: Bradley Photos).

Last season’s BOBS Horse Of The Year tackles stakes company for the first time in the Listed $200,000 Toyota Forklifts Starlight Stakes (1100m) and if the weather forecast is correct Ford feels she’ll be well placed.

The four-year-old won five races in 2023-24, with three of them in Saturday city grade, and all on soft 7 or worse ground.

While Rosehill was still a good 4 on Friday it’s unlikely to stay there given what is predicted leading up to the race, and that’s key to In Flight’s chances.

“I think Joe (Pride) has targeted this race with the forecast in mind,’’ Ford said.

“She’s trialled up well, both her trials have been really nice. She’s nice and sound and feels like she has come back well.

“If the forecast eventuates it’s her chance to run well in a stakes race. If we get the right conditions it’s going to be advantageous for her albeit this will be the strongest race she’s contested.”

While that is the case, In Flight did start $2.40 favourite in the July Sprint, before a spell, which was won by Jedibeel beating Contemporary – both rivals in the Starlight.

Ford, who has three wins from four rides on the mare, said In Flight ($10 with TAB on Friday) appears to have returned from her spell having not gone backwards and the Starlight will be an indication of how far forward she could go.

“There’s some pretty seasoned horses in this race, lots of different form lines, and it’s a pretty sound Listed race,’’ he said.

“If it rains you know it’s really going to bring her into calculations.

“She’s come back as well as she went out, she had a really good winter campaign. She feels maybe a touch stronger but I’m not going to say she’s improved out of sight.

“She’s very adaptable, she’s led and won and taken a sit and won. That’s a good trait to have.”

In-form galloper Uzziah is a bit the opposite to In Flight, Ford says he’d prefer it if not too much rain fell leading into the Group 3 $250,000 James Squire Festival Stakes (1500m).

The six-year-old has won two of his three starts this spring including his all the way victory in the final race on The Hunter card at Newcastle two weeks ago.

His trainer Scott Aspery then signalled the Festival was a likely next step and Ford feels he can be competitive if not too much rain arrives.

“He’s having a really good prep, he won well the other day at Newcastle and maintained his gallop all the way,’’ he said.

In Flight wins at Randwick in July

“He’s going to 1500m and a stakes race but he’s in the right vein of form and he’s going to go around with the minimum weight on his back.

“He’s a bit dependant on the weather, I know Scott was hoping for not much rain because he doesn’t feel he’s as good on a heavy surface so we’ll see what happens there.

“But it’s the right time to test him at this level.”

All the fields, form and replays for Saturday’s Rosehill meeting