Promising mare Flying Celica ($5) notched her second career win at Geelong last Saturday, relishing the rise beyond 1700-metres under jockey Mitch Aitken. The four-year-old daughter of Toronado had been sound in two runs since a short let-up, on the back of her maiden win at Echuca the start prior. The mare jumped cleanly on this occasion, Aitken using an inside gate to settle better than midfield after two furlongs, hunting through on the fence soon after to find the back of the leaders approaching the 1000-metre mark. It would prove to be an important move from the talented hoop, who was able to edge off the fence on the home bend and straighten up in a share if the lead. Eventual placegetter Forest Diamond ($10) cut the corner and claimed a narrow lead, with Flying Celica and Queen Of Tayrona ($7) close-up to her outside. This trio cleared out from the rest of the field, Aitken throwing everything at his galloper, who responded by lifting and finding the line best in the final 100-metres.
“It was a very tough win”, Aitken said post-race.
“She came off the bridle from about the seven-hundred, I just had to ride her through that flat spot.
“I felt like she was going to hold that gallop right through the line and hold the win”.
Henry was pleased with his galloper’s gritty effort.
“She didn’t quite have the speed to hold that box seat of her own accord, so she was used up a bit early and ridden a little outside of her comfort zone”, he said.
“She was good enough to win, regardless”.
Henry noted his mare would be suited out in distance again next time out, keen to get her to 2000-metres in the next fortnight, with options at Ararat and Wodonga front of mind.
Flying Celica has two wins from seven starts, in a preparation stretching back to her debut on the Ballarat Synthetic in June .