Like a weekend selector spotting untapped potential in the lower grades, the same satisfaction/success can be found in racing when you identify a horse that’s won its last start – but when you break down the performance, it’s clear that win belongs in much higher grade.
Skyglider – Brian Crowley Stakes – 97.6 WFA
The Chris Waller-trained colt rocketed onto the scene late in the spring with a dominant win in the Listed Brian Crowley Stakes, a race that has proven a real springboard for late-blooming 3YOs such as Spright (2016) and Mazu (2021).
Skyglider made a winning debut back in June when defeating two subsequent Group 3 winners, Sixties and Estremo. After a 12-week break and two trials, he returned unbeaten with an impressive first-up victory.
He produced a strong 97.6 WFA rating at just his second career start – a significant leap from his debut. I loved the tenacity he showed late when challenged by Pallaton, and his final 200m was excellent, suggesting 1400–1600m will be well within reach in time.
He’s a late nomination for the G1 Coolmore Stud Stakes this weekend – perhaps a touch sharp for him at this stage – but being a Magic Millions horse, that series might be the more realistic target.
Frosty Girl – BM72 – 94.0 WFA
Another unbeaten Waller runner, this time a 4YO Super Seth mare who made it 3/3 last Wednesday at Warwick Farm. Tackling a small field of four was a slight query on paper, but the solid early tempo allowed her electric turn of foot to shine as she quickly put her rivals away.
She ran a slick overall time – over six lengths faster than the BM78 later won by Dance To The Boom. That’s now three consecutive above average wins, and in typical Waller fashion, she’s been perfectly placed to progress at her own pace.
What’s impressed me most is her adaptability – she’s shown the ability to absorb both slow and fast tempos and still savage the line, a hallmark of quality. Her 94.0 WFA rating puts her right in the conversation for Listed or Group 3 mares company. Whether the stable presses on this prep or keeps her on the slow burn will be interesting to see.
Surfin’ Bird – BM70 – 99.0 WFA
This was a visually outstanding win backed up by the clock. You don’t often see a figure of 99.0 posted in a BM70 midweek at Caulfield, but there’s no question it was the performance of the day – launching this 4YO daughter of The Autumn Sun straight into the blackbooks of punters everywhere.
The First Light Racing mare, trained by Waterhouse & Bott, made it four wins from five starts. She absorbed a solid early tempo of +4.1 and sustained a relentless gallop through the line, her last 200m being the strongest of all her late splits – phenomenal when you break it down.
This performance screams “get me back to a mile and straight into Group class.” There’ll be no shortage of options for her across the Flemington carnival, and it’ll be fascinating to see where she turns up next.
*Ratings and figures Courtney of Daniel O’Sullivan’s TopRate.
