How To Fly Stamps Her Class
17 February, 2018
Thoroughbred
Exciting filly How To Fly has overcome a quick back up to take out the TABtouch Handicap (1000m) for the three-year-olds at Ascot this afternoon.
The daughter of Written Tycoon produced a career best effort in last week’s Magic Millions three-year-old Trophy at Pinjarra, according to trainer Adam Durrant, and her class prevailed in today’s $70,000 event.
Speaking on TABradio’s The Sports Daily earlier in the week, Durrant was circumspect about the filly’s chances, but was relieved after the win.
“It was a good effort,” he said.
“I was a little bit concerned with the seven days after a career best performance.
“We do plenty of tests and we scope them all after the race and she came back clean after that run and it gave us the confidence to go into the race.”
The complexion of the race changed prior to when the gates opened, when Paul Jordan announced his intentions to settle back in the field with Cognac.
This allowed How To Fly to settle in third place on the back of leader Tango Ora, while Jordan’s other runner Saturia sat outside the leader.
Apprentice Brodie Kirby remained patient aboard How To Fly, and the gap opened for him along the fence in the home straight.
Durrant was full of praise for the ride of the young hoop.
“It was a good little ride,” he said.
“I thought he might come to the outside, but he stuck to the inside and he snuck through.
“He started winning on $20 and $30 chances in the bush, and to me that tells me you aren’t just winning on the fast ones.”
Meanwhile, the Dan Morton-trained two-year-old Saetta will head for a spell after her win in the Argonaut Corporate Advisers & Stockbrokers Plate (1200m).
Despite a four length defeat on debut, Morton remained upbeat about the filly’s prospects heading into today’s event, where she upstaged the well fancied Assetro, who finished back in third.
Tim Walker