![Apprentice Mollie Fitzgerald will partner Flying For Fun in her first Group race ride at Randwick on Saturday. [Bradley Photos]](https://betsy.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/2331896.jpg)
Saturday can’t come quickly enough for apprentice Mollie Fitzgerald as she prepares for her first Group race ride aboard underrated mare Flying For Fun in the $1 million Shorts at Randwick.
The 24-year-old, who is indentured to Annabel and Rob Archibald, has had a trio of rides in Listed events but is thrilled trainer Bryce Heys has entrusted her with the mount on his dual stakes winner in a race that has established itself as a key Everest audition.
“It’s an awesome opportunity. A very ‘pinch myself’ moment,” Fitzgerald said.
“She’s a beautiful mare. I’ve had the benefit of riding her in a trial, but it’s so exciting. It’s what you dream of, to be in these races, so I’m really looking forward to it.”
A daughter of Heys’ former top sprinter Spieth, Flying For Fun won the Starlight Stakes (1100m) in November then underlined her quality when she resumed to take out the Maurice McCarten Stakes (1100m) in March.
She followed up with a brace of luckless Group 1 results in Adelaide, powering home to just miss in a four-way finish to the Robert Sangster Stakes (1200m) then strung up behind runners and unable to be fully tested when midfield in the Goodwood (1200m).
She has a handy fresh record, and while the outside draw in 12 presents a challenge against the likes of Joliestar, Headwall and Everest slot holder Ninja, Flying For Fun has shaped nicely in two lead-up trials, the first with Fitzgerald in the saddle.
“It was her first trial and she wasn’t asked to do much, but I had a lot of horse underneath me,” Fitzgerald said.
“James (McDonald) trialled her at her second trial and he was pretty happy with her as well. You can feel the difference being on those quality horses.
“She’s a model of consistency. She tries very hard, and she loves her racing. Towards the end of her last prep, she was ridden a bit more quietly and you do need luck from back there, but she has raced in good races and been honest.”
Fitzgerald’s booking for Flying For Fun is a one-off at this stage, but she is grasping it with both hands and hoping it might open more doors down the track.
“It’s just an awesome opportunity. Hopefully everything goes right on Saturday, and we’ll see what comes of it,” she said.
Fitzgerald’s Randwick book also includes the Luke Pepper-trained Brave Xena, who she reunites with in the Highway Handicap (1000m) after partnering her to victory in a similar race over the summer.
“There’s not much of her, but she’s beautiful,” Fitzgerald said.
“I won a Highway on her, and she’s honest, so I’m looking forward to getting back on her. She’s got a tricky draw (barrier 12), but she’s probably good enough to overcome that.”
