By Joshua Smith, Harness News Desk
Less than a week after coming tantalisingly close to a Group 1 victory, Kahlua Flybye is back on the path towards her next elite-level target.
The Bettor’s Delight filly looked to have the Group 1 Caduceus Club 2YO Fillies Classic (2200m) sewn up halfway down the straight at Alexandra Park last week, but she was just pipped at the post by the fast-finishing Millwood Nike.
Co-trainer Steve Telfer was delighted with Kahlua Flybye’s performance and is excited about what the future holds for his talented filly.
“She went well in the Group 1. She is a very nice filly, she has got very good manners and is well rounded,” said Telfer, who trains in partnership with his sister Amanda Telfer.
“She can be driven however the race needs to unfold. That is always going to stand her in good stead for future racing.
“She has done nothing wrong from day one and so far she is right up there with the good ones and with a bit of luck she can hopefully pull one off before the end of the season.”
Telfer has been pleased with the way his filly has come through last week’s race and said she will take her place in the Dunstan Horsefeeds Sires’ Stakes Heat 1 Mobile Pace (1700m) at Cambridge Raceway on Thursday.
“She has been good at home. Everything she has done so far says that she is well,” Telfer said.
The race has attracted just four other starters, with the Telfer team taking up two of those spots with Group Two winner Forever Me and Sweet Diamond.
The pair finished fifth and eighth respectively to Millwood Nike last week and Telfer said they too have come through the race well.
“We went back out of the gate last week with Sweet Diamond and she just got a bit lost back in the field,” Telfer said.
“She normally likes to run up on the pace and from one she will get her chance to do that on Thursday.
“She went a very good race the week before when she ran second to Millwood Nike. That is more like the run you will expect from her on Thursday night.
“Forever Me is going well. She is a tough filly and she will be driven that way on Thursday. She likes the pace on and I wouldn’t think it will be a sit and sprint race with her in it.”
Kahlua Flybye is currently a $2.10 co-favourite with the Barry Purdon- Scott Phelan trained Advance Party.
Telfer will also head to Cambridge with Mr Wonderful who will be piloted by Frank Phelan in the IRT Mobile Pace (2200m).
“He is just a consistent horse,” Telfer said. “He is going to need luck from the unruly in a 12-horse amateur race, but Frank knows him well and gets on well with him. I am sure he will put him in the race at the right time.”