Prize Money Gulf Forces Wild Flyer South

ALL eyes will be on brilliant youngster Wild Flyer when she makes her Victorian debut at Sandown Park this Thursday for Melbourne Cup winning trainer Dave Geall.

Victorious at 11 of her 22 NSW appearances for Hank Vanderburg, including a remarkable second to Zipping Veyron in the Group 1 National Futurity at Wentworth Park in January, Wild Flyer steps out over the 595 metres this Thursday night in race four on the program.

"I said to the owners she couldn't stay here in NSW the way things are now," said a despondent Vanderburg.

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"On Thursday night she's racing for $6,000 to-the-winner and if she stayed here she'd be racing for peanuts … $1,500 or $2,500 if we're lucky, and that's when I can get a race for her."

Before the COVID-19 pandemic took hold, Vanderburg was aiming the daughter of Fabregas and Big Chicken towards the Group 1 Association Cup at Wentworth Park, the final of which would have been staged on Saturday night.

At this stage the group 1 staying feature is scheduled to be run at the end of May along with the Golden Easter Egg, a situation looking increasingly unlikely by the day.

"She won at Richmond last start in 35.52 and wouldn't have blown a candle out after the race," declared Vanderburg.

"She's at the top of her game and with the good ones you don't know how long you have them for so you need to make the most of it while you can.

"It's upsetting losing her after getting her to where she is but you need to do the right thing by your owners. That's the most important thing. And for now that's her being in Melbourne."     

With it expected that Sandown will make announcements about next month's Group 1 Sandown Cup in the coming days, a tilt at the time-honoured staying feature may very well be on the cards for the star prospect. 

"You never know if they'll run the 700 out but she gives me every indication she will," Vanderburg explained.

"Her run home times are incredible and the day after her Richmond 600 win you wouldn't have known she'd been around.

"When we decided to send her down to Victoria I suggested to the owners that she go to Dave Geall. He did a great job with Miss Splendamiro and is a good guy as well. Whether she comes back when things get back to normal we'll just have to wait and see."

Drawn box four on Thursday night for her Sandown debut, Wild Flyer tackles a strong field that includes Group 1 Sale Cup winner Weblec Eagle and Australian Cup finalist Aston Cade.