Annabel Neasham is drawing on the experience of working under Gai Waterhouse and Ciaron Maher as she relishes the pressure of training a Golden Slipper favourite – one that could win a Ferrari even before making it to the world’s richest two-year-old race.
Neasham can take a huge step to securing the biggest win of her young training career when Learning To Fly jumps as favourite in the $2 million Inglis Millennium at Royal Randwick on Saturday.
For a trainer who has quickly emerged as a force in Australian racing, it is lessons learned under Waterhouse, the Golden Slipper’s most successful conditioner, and Maher that will be crucial in the coming weeks.
“They’re two extremely good two-year-old trainers,” Neasham said. “Ciaron has won a lot of big races as well. You learn a lot off them and then you put your own little twist on things.
“The main thing is you cannot push them. If they’re not ready, you just can’t do it. The ones that are winning now are just natural. But there will be a lot not ready to go to the races now who will be a minimum six months away.
“For me, it’s about identifying those two-year-olds who are putting their hand up and coping with the work to go to the next level. Sometimes they cope with the next level and then they’ve had enough; others take it by storm and keep going on with it.”
Jockey Chad Schofield and Learning To Fly return to scale after the Widden Stakes.Credit:Getty
Learning To Fly is one that has given every impression she’s ready to go on with it, rocketing into Golden Slipper favouritism after powering to victory on debut in the Widden Stakes a fortnight ago.
Coolmore Australia boss Tom Magnier, whose colours are carried by Learning To Fly, had promised a Ferrari to the owners of the first Justify progeny to win one of a list of selected races including the Inglis Millennium. He has other co-owners in the filly, which is favourite to win the sales-restricted race.
It might be another example of the fillies appearing to have the edge on the colts in the Golden Slipper lead-ups. The Rosehill scamper will carry $5 million in prizemoney this year.
Asked about Learning To Fly’s awkward barrier, which will result in the filly jumping from the extreme outside gate if the emergencies come out, Neasham said: “It’s not ideal at all. These things are out of our control and it’s something she’s got to deal with.
“Hopefully she has a lot of longevity, this filly, and sometimes she’s going to be jumping from good gates, sometimes she’s going to be jumping from bad gates. She’s still learning what it’s all about. Chad [Schofield] will have to sum it up and give her a nice ride. Ideally, she’ll get a bit of cover from out wide. We’ll discuss game plan closer to the day.
“On the clock they say the [fillies are dominating], but I think it’s just weekend by weekend. We’re all trying to win the big race on March 18, and there’s a fair bit to play out between now and then. I’m sure we’ve probably seen most horses that are going to get to that race, but horses improve and there’s a number of good colts and fillies around.”
Neasham will also saddle up last-start Scone winner Dorothy Gail ($51) in the Inglis Millennium, where Learning To Fly is the $2.80 top pick.
Neasham’s focus won’t just be restricted to the two-year-old fillies. Her emerging three-year-old Sunshine In Paris is a $7 second pick tackling group 1 winner In Secret ($1.80) in the group 2 Light Fingers Stakes.
“She’s a really classy filly and she’s been low flying,” Neasham said. “She was probably up in the off season and the way she won, particularly at Randwick, was really impressive. We’ve always had a big opinion of her, but it’s just taken time. She’s got a great mind for it. She’s finally drawn a gate and it’s a tough race, but I think she’s up to it.”
‘WA is home for now’: Pike bracing for Sydney return
Saddle wizard Willie Pike insists Perth is “home for now” as the champion West Australian jockey makes a hit-and-run mission at the start of Sydney’s autumn carnival.
Pike, who relocated to NSW after his home state’s strict vaccine mandates, will ride at Royal Randwick for the first time in months after heading back west for Perth’s summer carnival late last year.
The rider picked up a pair of group 1s in Queensland and multiple stakes wins in Sydney during his stint on the east coast but also found it hard to get a strong foothold in one of the most competitive jockey rooms in the world.
WIllie Pike will return to Sydney for the Apollo Stakes meeting.Credit:Getty
Asked what he learned from his time in Sydney, Pike joked: “To tell you the truth, I learned how to swim because it never stopped raining.
“It was a humbling experience overall. There’s a lot of good jockeys, a lot of tracks to learn, and it was a great life experience. You’ve got the New Zealand riders who are well accustomed to [the wet tracks]. There was a lot to take in and a lot to learn.
“I don’t really like plans because they don’t seem to work very well. I’m happy to call WA home and go where the opportunities may present. At this stage, it’s a hit-and-run [mission on Saturday].”
The main reason for his long flight across the Nullarbor is to reunite with JJ Atkins heroine Sheeza Belter, which is trained by Peter and Paul Snowden but raced by West Australian interests.
But Australia’s leading group 1 trainer Chris Waller has booked Pike for four mounts, including Lazzago in the $2 million Inglis Millennium.
Sheeza Belter ($9) will have her work cut out trying to stop Godolphin’s group 1 winner In Secret ($1.85) in the group 2 Light Fingers Stakes.
“Sheeza Belter is the one to get me back across,” Pike said. “I’ve struck a good partnership with her the horse and her ownership group, and they decided they wanted me to go and ride her – and I’m more than happy to.
“I’d like to stick with her and see how far she goes. She’s loaded with talent and they’re not easy to find, those ones. I’m happy to see where the opportunity goes. The word from the stable is she’s worked really well.”
Lazzago ($9.50) is trying to maintain her unbeaten record and thrust herself into the Golden Slipper picture against Learning To Fly, which is favourite for the world’s richest two-year-old race.
“I’ve seen a couple of reports on [Lazzago] and they’re really good,” Pike said. “I’m a lucky person to pick up a ride like that, and hopefully I can convert the opportunity and make something of it.
“It would be nice to repay the faith of the people who have backed me, like Chris Waller and Sheeza Belter’s crew.”
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