Pittsburgh Flyer Back To Her Best In Mumm Stakes

Pittsburgh Flyer returned to her best form with a fast-finishing victory in the 2015 Mumm Stakes at Flemington this afternoon.

Pittsburgh Flyer had not recorded a race win since she upset Earthquake to take out the Listed MSS Security Stakes (1100m) at Flemington on March 14 earlier this year, but she showed an impressive turn-of-foot to fly home late on the outside rail and claim victory from Dublin Lass and Brook Road.

Jockey James McDonald revealed after the race that he was under strict instructions from the Hope team to wait until as late as possible before he made his move Pittsburgh Flyer, but he still believes that the talented mare took him to the lead slightly early.

“She is a lovely mare actually,” McDonald said.

“It is the first time that I have ever sat on her.

“They gave me pretty strict instructions about not going too early and I probably still got there a bit early, but she is a good mare.

“I have to thank the Hope Team, they have been very good to me and they have supported me over the carnival.

“She travelled really sweetly in behind them and she won really well.

Pittsburgh Flyer did not have any wet track form on her racing resume before she contested the Mumm Stakes, but co-trainer Lee Hope revealed after the race that he was always confident the Street Cry mare would handle the heavy track.

Hope said that Pittsburgh Flyer did not have a great deal of luck in either of her race starts during the 2015 Spring Racing Carnival to date and he was thrilled to see her return to winning form in the Mumm Stakes.

“Her form stated that she wouldn’t really handle it, but she handled it at home and in Sydney she got on the wrong part of the track both times and the 1400 she just doesn’t quite run and that is why we have just struck to the spring trips this time in,” Hope said.

“She didn’t have a lot of room last time and the vet suggested to try a tongue tie, which we did and it seems to have made a difference.

“She was very unlucky last time too. “

Dublin Lass looked the winner at the 100 metre mark before she was run down late by Pittsburgh Flyer, while Brook Road made up plenty of ground late to finish third.

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About The Author

Thomas Hackett

Thomas is a passionate and opinionated racing journalist and punter who has been obsessed with horse racing since he backed Saintly to win the 1996 Melbourne Cup. An international racing enthusiast, he has his finger on the pulse of racing news not just from Australia but all around the world.