Skybird From Last to First in Fillies Classic

Mark Smith - Saturday October 28

Always a standout in the parade ring, Skybird has the ability to back up her looks and kept her record at a perfect three for three in Saturday’s Group II Point Motors Fillies Classic (1600m) at Moonee Valley.

She's a winner (image Grant Courtney)

Ridden by Beau Mertens for Mitch Freedman, Skybird was taken back to last from an outside barrier.

Riding for luck, Mertens stuck to the fence rounding the home turn and needed to go around only the leader, Grinzinger Belle.

Advertisement

The strapping daughter of Exosphere defeated the Shamexpress filly Grinzinger Belle by a half-neck, with the Fastnet Rock filly Carina Queen three-quarters of a length back in third.

After making a winning career debut at Ballarat on September 22, Skybird was a facile winner over 1300m at Bendigo a fortnight later.

Freedman said that he left the tactics up to Beau Mertens.

“He had to be patient, but before the race I told him we’ll leave it up to you. If you go inside them and try and get it done that way, so be it,” Freedman said.

“She’s pretty tractable and knows how to get through them.

“I thought Craig Williams (Broadcaster) and Mick Dee (Carina Queen) were the horses to try and get on the back of and pick our way that way. It turned out they were right in front of him.

“I walked the track earlier in the day, and I knew it was going to be tricky for her.

“It was a great ride. He (Mertens) can’t do much wrong for us at the moment.

“How good to get a winner on Cox Plate Day. We did it four years ago, and it's good to do it again.”

A $110,000 purchase for her trainer from the HP Thoroughbreds draft at the 2022 Inglis Classic yearling Sale, Highway Session, Skybird is the best of three winners from as many to race from the winning Wanted mare Real Desire.

Skybird a $110,000 Inglis Classic yearling

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.

Flying Along has a yearling colt by Deep Field.

Skybird is the seventh stakes-winner for Oaklands Stud’s Group 1 winning Lonhro stallion Exosphere who stands for $6,600.

Advertisment

Race Result - 3 Point Motors Fillies Classic Gr2 1600m

Moonee Valley Track: Good(4) Time: 1:37.01
1
Skybird
- 3f Exosphere (AUS) x Real Desire (AUS) (Wanted (AUS))
Tnr: Mitchell Freedman Rdr: Beau Mertens 57
2
0.2
Grinzinger Belle
- 3f Shamexpress (NZ) x Ripsomemore (NZ) (Rip Van Winkle (IRE))
Tnr: D T O'Brien Rdr: Z Purton 57
3
1
Carina Queen
- 3f Fastnet Rock (AUS) x Hot Augusta (NZ) (Zabeel (NZ))
Tnr: G M Begg Rdr: M J Dee 57
Fastnet Rock
4
3
Quickster
- 3f Shamus Award (AUS) x Special Favour (AUS) (General Nediym (AUS))
Tnr: P G Moody & Katherine Coleman Rdr: W Egan 57
5
3.7
Captain Amelia
- 3f Dundeel (NZ) x Courageous Kitty (AUS) (Fastnet Rock (AUS))
Tnr: J A O'Shea Rdr: J B Mc Donald 57
6
3.9
Poifect
- 3f Pierro (AUS) x Without Exception (AUS) (Flying Spur (AUS))
Tnr: Ben, Will & Jd Hayes Rdr: M Zahra 57
7
4.4
Broadcaster
- 3f Written Tycoon (AUS) x Bel Selene (AUS) (Bel Esprit (AUS))
Tnr: C Maher & D Eustace Rdr: Craig Williams 57
8
5.2
Aprilia
- 3f U S Navy Flag (USA) x Miss Avalon (IRE) (Fantastic Light (USA))
Tnr: Andrew Forsman Rdr: D Oliver 57
9
5.9
Nodachi
- 3f No Nay Never (USA) x Kaiken (AUS) (Exceed And Excel (AUS))
Tnr: M J Ellerton Rdr: Damian Lane 57
10
8.7
Oceans Of Energy
- 3f Dundeel (NZ) x Ocean Gate (AUS) (Sebring (AUS))
Tnr: M J Dunn Rdr: B Shinn 57
More Reading...
Cambridge Stud to Sell Entire Draft at Karaka 2026
Leading thoroughbred nursery Cambridge Stud have committed their full support for NZB’s 2026 National Yearling Sales Series, with the announcement they will be selling 100% of their yearling stock at Karaka. 
Skybird Flies in Tobin Bronze
Out of luck in two starts since kick-starting her career with three wins culminating in the Group II MVRC Moonee Valley Classic, Skybird burst back into the winner’s circle in Saturday’s Group II Sportsbet Tobin Bronze Stakes at Morphettville and earned a likely shot at the Group 1 Goodwood on May 18.
Juvenile Trial Watch – Randwick
Trial action was at Randwick on Friday and there were six heats for juveniles that included some interesting unraced youngsters highlighted by the full brother to a promising young sire, a well bred son of Farnan and an Extreme Choice filly.
National Online Breeding Stock Sale online now
The National Online Breeding Stock Sale has launched on Gavelhouse Plus with bidding open on the 87 Lots sale which is set to end from 7pm on Wednesday 9th July.
Promising 2YOs for Pike
Tony Pike found it difficult to split his juvenile charges the last time they took each other on and it’s the same story at Ruakaka.
Sires With Winners - Friday June 27
Here is the full list of 48 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Flying Artie 2YO Wins by Four!
Blue Gum Farm have an appealing roster of three sires for this spring and while it’s all in front of Sejardan and Oxley Road, proven favourite Flying Artie remains unbeatable value and the G1 sire produced a four length 2YO winner on Thursday.
Vinery Stud Announce Adam White as Interim Manager
From the 1st of July, Vinery Stud is pleased to announce the appointment of Adam White as Interim General Manager, following the resignation of Peter Orton. A dedicated and long-standing member of the Vinery team, Adam brings a wealth of experience and an in-depth understanding of both the business and the industry to this pivotal role.
G1 Lightning Triumph for Skybird - Magical Week for HP Thoroughbreds
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.
$190,000 Per Incanto Colt Heads Vibrant Weanling Sale
The  2025 National Weanling Sale saw its first dual-code weanling session in play at Karaka, with a total aggregate of $2,410,000 outlaid across 84 lots by a strong domestic buying bench plus international support from Australia, Hong Kong and China.