Idle Flyer faces ultimate test with Cox Plate dream alive

With the Cox Plate dangling as a potential spring goal, trainer Matthew Smith is keen to see how Idle Flyer measures up against some of the best horses in the country when the mare kicks off her campaign in the Winx Stakes at Randwick.

A brilliant winner of the Group 1 Queen Of The Turf Stakes (1600m) in the autumn, Idle Flyer will face her toughest test yet when she clashes with the ilk of Autumn Glow, Aeliana, Sheza Alibi and Ceolwulf on Saturday.

While Smith isn’t expecting Idle Flyer to stage an upset, he is hoping she can hold her own and lay an important platform for her campaign.

“She’s not going to beat those horses in a 1400 metre race, so it’s really a starting point for her,” Smith said.

“She’ll just get better and better into her preparation once she gets to a mile and beyond.

“But I’m really keen to see where she fits in. She’s had a trouble-free ‘prep’ leading into the run. Her fitness is good, and she handles a wet track, so she’ll run really well.”

Relatively lightly raced for a five-year-old, Idle Flyer has won eight of her 15 starts, and has continued to improve each preparation.

Making a successful transition to black-type grade 12 months ago when she claimed the Group 3 Angst Stakes (1600m), she built on that again in the autumn to capture the Group 2 Emancipation Stakes (1500m) before landing her maiden Group 1.

Smith believes her best is still ahead and says the mare’s planned third-up run in the 7 Stakes (1600m) at Randwick on September 19 will be crucial to determining the rest of her spring.

“That will be a fork in the road for us. We’ll either go to the Cox Plate or back the other way,” Smith said.

“We don’t know where the ceiling is. That Queen Of The Turf win was really good. That’s the first time we’ve really stepped her out to a proper race, and she was great, so fingers crossed she can keep going.”

Idle Flyer will be one of two stakes runners for Smith at Randwick, along with Prima Bella in the Toy Show Quality (1100m).

The mare is chasing a hat-trick of wins and while Saturday’s Group 3 race represents a steep rise in grade, she is a clear third pick in early markets at $4.80 behind Apocalyptic ($2.25 fav) and Savvy Hallie ($3.80).

“I thought, if she won the other day you’ve got to have a crack at a mares’ race,” Smith said.

“It might be too tough for her, but she’s going well.

“She’s race fit. She’s ready, and she’ll roll forward. If she can run top four, I’ll be delighted.”