Top Sydney jockey Nash Rawiller believes he is on the right filly to bring him a Group 1 Flight Stakes 2012 win rating Gai Waterhouse’s undefeated Urban Groove as the one to beat in the Randwick feature this Saturday.
Urban Groove will look to maintain her unbeaten record in the 2012 Flight Stakes this Saturday
One of four elite level features of Epsom Handicap Day, the $400,000 Group 1 Flight Stakes (1600m) drew a final field of just nine three-year-old fillies.
The current favourites in the Flight Stakes betting markets are 2012 Crown Oaks-bound Dear Demi coming off a fourth to fellow Flight Stakes hopeful Longport in the Group 2 Tea Rose Stakes (1500m) at the track two weeks back, and the Bart Cummings-trained Norzita who was defeated only a short half-head when second in the Tea Rose.
It is third favourite Urban Groove however that Rawiller rides.
Drawn in gate four the daughter of Charge Forward is yet to taste defeat in her two career starts.
She debuted at Kembla Grange on September 15 making and immediate impact when winning a fillies’ maiden over 1200m by an easy five lengths.
At her next start she became a stakes winner thanks to an impressive half length victory over Brave Soul in the Listed Reginald Allen Quality (1200m) at Rosehill last Saturday.
Now Urban Groove will look to add a Group 1 win to her name in the Flight Stakes, a task Rawiller is confident she can achieve when he becomes the third jockey in as many starts to ride the promising youngster.
While it will be the first official ride on Urban Groove for Rawiller he did partner with her for two barrier trials before her race debut and is looking forward to getting back in the saddle this weekend.
“She’s coming off a very impressive last start win in Listed company,” Rawiller said.
“She’s a filly that, as a two-year-old, showed us tremendous ability.
“We thought she was one of our best two-year-olds.
“She was plagued by an injury (cracked pelvis while being prepared for the Magic Millions on the Gold Coast in January) which put her out for 12 months but she’s come back in unbelievable order and she’s the sort of filly that can take the next step and win at Group One level.”
If successful on Saturday it will be Rawiller’s second Flight Stakes success following his win with glamour mare More Joyous back in 2009 who was Waterhouse’s seventh and most recent Flight Stakes winner.
Rawiller has an outstanding book of rides at Randwick this Epsom Handicap Day with his other Group 1 winning chances being on the Chris Waller-trained Rangirangdoo ($7.50) in the $500,000 Group 1 Epsom Handicap (1600m), and Waterhouse’s unbeaten favourite Proisir ($1.50) in the $400,000 Group 1 Spring Champion Stakes (2000m).
Check out the odds on all of Rawiller’s rides at Royal Randwick on Saturday right now at bookmaker.com.au and bet with confidence knowing you are betting with a 100 percent Australian owned, operated and trusted online bookmaker.
