Trainer Robbie Griffiths is confident that Girl In Flight can overcome her poor Australasian Oaks barrier draw in the Group 1 event at Morphettville on Saturday.
Girl In Flight will jump from barrier 13 in the Australasian Oaks at Morphettville on Saturday. Photo by: Jenny Barnes
Girl In Flight stamped herself as the favourite for the Australasian Oaks with a strong win in the Group 3 Schweppervescence Stakes (1800m) at Morphettville, but did not fare well in the Australasian Oaks barrier draw and will jump from barrier 13 on Saturday.
Griffiths admitted that he was slightly disappointed when he first heard that the three-year-old would jump from an outside gate, but told TVN that leading form analyst Deane Lester had told him that the wide draw would not be a disadvantage in the Australasian Oaks.
“She has drawn an awkward barrier, but she is in peak form at the right time,” Griffiths said.
“Deane said it is actually not a bad draw as the way the circuit is over there those barriers come into play.
“It’s good to hear that five of the past dozen or so winners have come from out wide.”
Girl In Flight was ridden just off the pace when she took out the Schweppervescence Stakes, but has shown plenty of tactical versatility in her seven career starts and will be ridden, once again, by Matthew Allen in the Group 1 event on Saturday.
“She is pretty versatile,” Griffiths said.
“Last time she drew barrier two and she was three back and popped off the fence and there have been other situations where she came from last at Caulfield.
“She has more strings to her bow than being one dimensional.”
Girl In Flight started her racing career with wins in Pakenham and Sale and scored her maiden metropolitan victory with a tough win in the Leigh Thomas Gift (1700m) at Caulfield on November 30 last year.
The Commands filly started her autumn preparation with a third place finish in the Group 3 The Vanity (1400m) at Flemington on February 15 and finished within a length and a half of the winner in both the Group 2 Kewney Stakes (1400m) at Flemington on March 8 and the Listed Alexandra Stakes (1600m) at Moonee Valley on March 21 before winning the Schweppervescence Stakes.
Girl In Flight is currently available at 2014 Australasian Oaks odds of $4 and is a narrow favourite from May’s Dream ($4.20), Scratchy Bottom ($6.50), In Masquerade ($11) and Star Fashion ($11).
