Anthony and Kristen Evans from HP Thoroughbreds thought they’d had a great week when they sold their highest ever priced yearling at Inglis Classic but it got quite a bit better when one of their previous Classic graduates won the Group I Lightning Stakes at Flemington on Saturday.
Four-year-old mare Skybird came with a rapid-fire finish to win, giving the daughter of Exosphere her first Group One win, and indeed her sadly deceased sire his first also.
THE RACE
The build up was all about the three three year-old colts from three breeding powerhouses:
Group I winner Switzerland for Coolmore.
Group III winner, Group I placed and The Everest placed Glowing Empire for Yulong.
Group II winner and Group I placed Traffic Warden for Godolphin.
Traffic Warden was squeezed at the start and settled well back where he didn’t want to be.
Switzerland found a good spot mid pack but had trouble getting clear when James McDonald was looking for it.
Growing Empire had a good run near pace but raced erratically under pressure.
Skybird settled near rear and was full of running well after the majority had come under pressure and finished brilliantly.
THE QUOTES
John Allen
“I’ve not had a lot to do with her. Galloped her a couple of times in last week. She’s been flying.”
“Was following Switzerlend, I was going that easy I had to get off him and try and find my
own path.”
“She quickened up and put the race to bed very quickly.”
“From about the half way she just felt like she couldn’t get beat to be honest.”
Mitch Freedman
“Her work at Horsham 10 days ago and her work on Tuesday was phenomenal.”
SALES
Skybird was a $110,000 purchase for Mitch Freedman Racing from the HP Thoroughbreds draft at the Inglis Classic Yearling Sale Highway Session.
BREEDING
Skybird is the best of three winners from as many to race from the winning Wanted mare Real Desire.
She is the best by Group I Golden Rose winner Exosphere who passed away having stood at Queensland’s Oaklands Stud in 2024.
A half-sister to stakes-placed winner Flying Along, Real Desire is out of a half-sister to Captain Bax and Snippets Lass, the dam of Snippets, Hinchinbrook, Viennese and Weiner, dam of G1 Epsom Handicap winner Rediener, and Royal Snippets, the granddam of Private Eye.
Skybird has a 2YO colt by Deep Field named The Real Man in the Tony and Calvin McEvoy stable, yet to be seen publicly.
She foaled a colt by Pierro last season and was served by Home Affairs.
THE FUTURE
It’s all about the colts.
Switzerland gets a pass mark given he’s already a Group I winner, found trouble in running and was only nosed out of third.
Growing Empire looked tuned up in the parade and was thee to figure but his manners let him down.
Traffic Warden found himself awkwardly placed but could have finished better.
So ultimately it will be all eyes on their respective next starts.
