A drizzly morning, a deteriorating soft (6) track and a relatively quick fortnight’s turnaround, failed to dim the resolve of trainer Joe Pride’s commitment to running lightly raced filly IN FLIGHT in a 1000m Maiden at Gosford on Saturday.
The early morning decision, not an easy one given she’d failed on debut on a soft (7) at Warwick Farm, was endorsed in spades after a copybook ride from Jean Van Overmeire later that day, which saw the filly racing away from her six rivals to win by a length and three quarters.
“She began nice and quick, I didn’t pull her nor did I push, she sort of put herself in that forward position of her own accord,” explained an eloquent Overmeire post-race.
“Once those two went ahead, she came back, relaxed, got into a really nice rhythm and wasn’t intimidated at all,” he added.
“She showed good experience in terms of how she quickened coming into the straight. She then pulled out from those two leaders and accelerated away like a professional.”
A $220,000 Adelaide Magic Millions graduate, IN FLIGHT’S ownership group includes her breeder Kerrie Tibby of Goodwood Farm who also reared the top class Proven galloper, PRIVATE EYE (coincidentally also sold at the Adelaide Magic Millions Sale) as well as IN FLIGHT’s sire FLYING ARTIE.
“You tend to return to the well in racing,” Proven principal Jamie Walter said.
“We’re all superstitious and gravitate to where we’ve previously had luck. Kerrie has been a breeder of quality horses from a relatively small stud, for many years so it’s very pleasing to have a winner for her.”
In a week that threw up a trio of Proven winners, IN FLIGHT became the 11th in the black and lime green for Season 23-24 and the 48th victor for the calendar year. The prizemoney tally for 2023 now sits at an unprecedented $18.1m.