Mascot continues to fly

[Wandering Eyes]

Trainer Tom Dabernig will play the patient game with in-form mare Flying Mascot (NZ) (Tavistock) who scored yet another impressive win at Flemington on Saturday.

The four-year-old daughter of Tavistock landed her third win at Group Three level when she took out the Matron Stakes (1600m) on Saturday to go with her victory second-up in the Mannerism Stakes (1400m) at Caulfield on February 26.

Given a perfect ride by Blaike McDougall, Flying Mascot scored a widening two length win from Groovy Kinda Love (Smart Missile) with Rocha Clock (Pierro) a half-length away third.

Dabernig planned a quiet autumn for Flying Mascot before getting ambitious with her in the spring.

The next outing for Flying Mascot is expected to be the Gr.2 Sunline Stakes (1600m) at The Valley on March 25 before going for a spell.

“We’ve tried to just progress her gradually,” Dabernig said.

“She only had four runs in the spring, and this was only her third run in the autumn.

“I think she’s a very good miler and I think there’s still probably better to come as she can handle wet or dry ground.

“The plan has always been to go in 13 days and look at Moonee Valley for the Group Two Sunline Stakes for the mares and then we’ll probably be a bit more ambitious in the spring if she spells well after this autumn.”

McDougall has been aboard Flying Mascot in her three victories in stakes company and said the mare was a dream to ride.

“She’s a lovely mare and quite progressive,” McDougall said.

“We keep raising the bar every start and she keeps stepping up.

“Tom’s got a masterplan. He’s a very astute trainer and he keeps turning her out in terrific order.”

Bred by Ron Finemore, Flying Mascot is by Tavistock out of the Zabeel mare Lucky Mascot (NZ), a placed daughter of multiple Group Two winner Arletty.

Purchased for A$25,000 as a yearling, Flying Mascot, who is a half-sister to stakes winning juvenile Koala Bear, has now won six of her 13 starts and A$527,525 in prizemoney.

Flying Mascot’s victory gave her sire, Tavistock, a Group Three double, with his daughter Ruthless Dame (NZ) winning the Gr.3 TBV Thoroughbred Breeders’ Stakes (1200m) earlier on the card.

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