The well-bred Skylimit makes his long awaited debut when he steps out in the $40,000 Schweppes Plate (1200m) for maiden three year old colts and geldings at Canterbury today.
Skylimit, a half brother to 2013 Golden Slipper winner Overreach, above, is making his race debut at Canterbury. Photo by Steve Hart.
Skylimit, a half brother to 2013 Golden Slipper winner Overreach, missed his two year old season because of immaturity but his owner – breeder George Altomonte is excited that the Flying Spur colt is ready to show his potential on the race track.
“We’ve been excited about this horse from the day he was born because he was a really good-looking colt, he was easy to handle, he just needed time to mature,’’ Altomonte told The Daily Telegraph.
“He’s got a few of her traits. He jumps like a rabbit out of the barriers, Overreach did that, and he’s also got that good turn of foot.’’
Skylimit will line up for the first time after being given a typical Gai Waterhouse preparation which included two sizzling barrier trial wins at Randwick, one by four lengths and the other by seven and a quarter lengths.
While race day jockey Tommy Berry says that Skylimit has well above average ability like his older half-sister Overreach, he is a bit more relaxed on the track than her, hence the addition of blinkers for his debut.
“His work at home has been exceptional, he’s a lovely type who is well put-together, and I expect him to be very, very hard to beat,” Berry said.
“She was a get-up-and-go filly, you didn’t have to ask her to work, and she worked almost too good. He’s more laid-back, you have to wake him up going out on to the track, and then down the straight he’ll pick up the bit and work to the line himself without you asking him.
“He can really let rip and run some good sectionals, he’s just laid-back.
“He’ll have blinkers on.”
Skylimit is currently the short priced $2.40 favourite for the Schweppes Plate with Ladbrokes.com.au in the small seven horse field.
The Chris Waller trained Avonaco, Brazen Moss from the Gerald Ryan stable and first starter Giant Circus all share the next line of betting at $6 ahead of Liberty Island at $7.50, Herne’s Oak at $8 and Sadler’s Lake at $16.
Avonaco is sure to have gained valuable experience after being beaten first up as favourite over 1250m at Canterbury on November 19 while Brazen Moss is resuming from a spell looking for an overdue win after recording five seconds during his last preparation.
