Sky ready to fly for Freedman

Mitch Freedman is hoping a visit to The Valley on Tuesday morning at Breakfast with the Best will pay dividends with ‘looky’ filly Skybird in Saturday’s Group 2 Fillies Classic.

The $110,000 daughter of Exosphere is unbeaten in two starts and earned favoritism on Cox Plate Day off two restricted wins and got familiar with the unique circuit this week.

Freedman was keeping a close eye on the work riding stablemate Belle Et Riche in the gallop.

“I know she looks pretty bombproof on raceday, but she does have a look at things,” he said.

“Getting around the corner she had a fairly good look. I was on the horse in front of her and I could sense that, so we waited to let her accelerate. But once she straightened up and balanced, she was very good to the line.”

A $3 favourite with Sportsbet, Beau Mertens will contend with gate 11, the outside alley in the field.

While Freedman had some reservations as she gets deeper into her preparation, he’s hoping Saturday’s distance and that of the Thousand Guineas at 1600 metres is up her alley.

“It’s a little bit unknown heading to the mile. She’s been pretty brilliant at the shorter trips, so hopefully it doesn’t take away her turn of foot,” he said.

“When she’s in a race she is pretty professional and switches off and finishes off.”

Freedman won on Cox Plate Day in 2009 with Broadwayandfourth in the Crockett Stakes.

WATCH: Skybird’s last-start win at Bendigo