Wonderful To Fly had a tough run in the breeze before scoring an easy victory in a qualifying heat of the APG WA Gold Bullion classic for two-year-old fillies on Tuesday of last week, and Pinjarra trainer-reinsman Shane Young is quietly confident she can overcome the outside barrier in the field of five in the $50,000 final at Gloucester Park on Friday night.
In the heat, Wonderful To Fly started from the No. 5 barrier and she raced without cover before dashing to the front 350m from home and winning by just under two lengths from Taking The Miki, who enjoyed a perfect passage on the back of Wonderful To Fly.
“I don’t think that the draw this week is a worry, but I’m not saying that I’m just going to win,” said Young. “The way she went, she looks the testing material. She is still learning to race, and it was good that she didn’t overrace and was able to relax in the heat.”
Wonderful To Fly, bred by Kevin and Annette Charles, was passed in at $10,000 at the 2020 APG WA yearling sale before Young purchased her for $20,000 a few months after the sale on behalf of himself, his daughter Alison and several stable clients. The filly now has earned $18,331 from three wins and two placings from six starts.
Wonderful To Fly had been broken in and had had two preparations when Young asked Kevin Charles if he had anything for sale. “Kevin said he had some youngsters for sale, so I went and had a look at those horses, and I picked out Wonderful To Fly,” said Young.
“Dad (Ron Young) had given the filly a preparation and he said that he liked her. She was quite an athletic type, and I was able to drive her on the track when she felt okay.”
Wonderful To Fly is sure to be seriously tested by Extraordinary Mary (barrier two) and Taking The Miki (barrier three).
Extraordinary Mary, trained by Jemma Hayman and to be driven by Shannon Suvaljko, has won at two of her five starts when Suvaljko took full advantage of her gate speed and drove her to all-the-way victories, including the Western Crown Classic two starts ago when she beat Wonderful To Fly by a neck, with Taking The Miki in third place.
Chris Voak, who will drive the Ross Olivieri-trained Taking the Miki, said that the filly was still a bit immature, but was certainly capable of figuring in the finish. “She is improving and her trackwork is getting better,” he said.
Trainer Michael Brennan is looking for a strong effort from Miss Sassy (barrier four). “She has been awfully unlucky at her past two starts,” he said. “If Extraordinary Mary and Wonderful To Fly go to war, Miss Sassy will play a part.”
