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Source: theaustralian.com.au
The 1400m Warwick Farm 3YO Maiden Handicap on Wednesday has the recent history to lay claim on the title of Australia’s best maiden race – this year’s winner, Sing Your Song.
The last three winners: Attica (2025), El Castello (2024) and Ceolwulf (2023) are all subsequent Group 1 winners and adding further merit to the race, Rediener finished second in 2022, then won the Epsom the following season.
“I was hoping she could be a Flight Stakes filly,” Sing You Song’s trainer Chris Waller said.
“Obviously, there’s still a long way to go but we’ve probably got a little bit of time now to back off, regroup and time our run.”
Sing Your Song firmed from $15 into $11 with TAB in Flight Stakes betting after Wednesday win.
The victory came down to jockey James McDonald’s purpose in the early stages.
Sing You Song was on the back foot when the barriers opened but despite missing the start slightly, McDonald allowed the daughter of Snitzel to stride around the field and take up an on-speed position to the outside of the leader Moonlit Wings.
From there the race was always in his control with Sing Your Song ($2.60 fav) sprinting sharply in the straight and holding off a solid finishing Waiheke Rose ($2.90) by a neck with a further short next back to Wonka ($10) in third.
“She hasn’t had much luck so far (in her career) and it was a day to probably ask the question,” Waller said.
“She was probably a little bit lost there but she’s a very nice filly. Class horse.
“I think she’ll be a better horse chasing but today should just wake her up a bit.”
Post race McDonald was a man of few words, but the fact he rode the filly at 55.5kg on a Wednesday tells you more than words.
And the premier jockey was the fore with another potential Flight Stakes contender a few races later when Queen’s Gamble continued her rapid rise through the grades, taking out the Benchmark 72 Handicap (1400m).
Trainer Matthew Smith said the Anders filly would now join up with the “good fillies” in the Princess Series starting with the Group 2 Tea Rose (1400m) in two weeks time with a view to heading to the Group 1 Flight Stakes (1600m) on October 3.
“Off that I can’t see a mile being a problem,” Smith said.