Kiwi mare in top order for Flemington

[Wandering Eyes]

Tom Dabernig has not given up on a start for his stable flag-bearer Flying Mascot (NZ) (Tavistock) in the All-Star Mile but realises hopes of a start are lengthening by the day.

Flying Mascot is to run at Flemington on Saturday in the Gr.3 Matron Stakes (1600m) with a remote possibility of backing up in the $5 million All-Star Mile the following week.

Dabernig said a more likely scenario was for Flying Mascot to head to the Gr.2 Sunline Stakes (1600m) at The Valley on March 25 after Saturday’s run and then for a spell to prepare for the spring.

While describing Flying Mascot as a ‘delicate filly’, Dabernig has backed-up the four-year-old previously following her win at The Valley on Cox Plate Day to run fifth in the Group 1 Empire Rose Stakes at Flemington the following Saturday.

“I rang Greg (Carpenter) to find out if there was any realistic chance of getting in (the All-Star Mile) and while I haven’t totally ruled it out, it’s not really a focus anymore,” Dabernig said.

“I like this race called the Sunline Stakes at The Valley which is what I’m more focussing on and then I can give her a break before it gets too cold, not be tempted to go to Sydney and then hopefully she can have a spring campaign.

“Last spring and this autumn she will have had four runs in each prep whereas in the spring she could end up having six or seven runs and by then have the foundation to cope with it.

“She’s always been a bit of a delicate filly and that’s why I’ve resisted going interstate.”

A last start winner of the Gr.3 Mannerism Stakes (1400m) at Caulfield last month, Dabernig said he was a little surprised by the added strength to Saturday’s race.

But he said Flying Mascot was in good order.

“She seems great and for mine she is going better than what she was in the spring, and she held her form through the spring,” Dabernig said.

“She led the other day, but at Flemington over a mile I would prefer to be sitting off one or two, but if she jumps and puts herself there, there’s not much you can do.”

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