Promising filly Pittsburgh Flyer could head to New South Wales for the 2015 Sydney Autumn Racing Carnival after she beat a tough field to win the 2015 MSS Security Stakes at Flemington this afternoon.
Leading Hong Kong-based jockey Joao Moreira was booked to ride Pittsburgh Flyer in the MSS Security Stakes and the talented hoop timed his run extremely well on the Street Cry filly.
Pittsburgh Flyer could head to Sydney for the Autumn Carnival after winning the Listed MSS Security Stakes at Flemington. Photo by Adrienne Bicknell
Moreira was happy to be patient on Pittsburgh Flyer, while the likes of Tudor ensured there was plenty of early pace in the race and the three-year-old responded well when asked for an extra effort in the final 200 metres to rundown Earthquake in the final stages.
“She was fantastic,” Moreira said after the race.
“When I jumped on top of her in the parade ring she gave me such a good feel.
“She was well prepared by the connections and I am just a lucky boy to be sitting on top of her today.
“They went quiet hard in front and I did as the trainer asked me to just be patient and just go for the last dash in the last furlong.
“She just finished so strong and it was too hard for the others.”
Pittsburgh Flyer finished a credible fourth behind Fontein Ruby in the Group 2 Edward Manifold Stakes (1600m) during the 2014 Spring Racing Carnival and she returned to racing a promising third in the PKF Handicap (1000m) at Moonee Valley on February 20, but she went to another level in the MSS Security Stakes this afternoon.
Co-trainer Shannon Hope was most impressed with the victory and said that the stable will now decide whether they send the three-year-old to Sydney or save her for an autumn campaign in Adelaide.
“It was a pretty tough race for a three-year-old Listed race and it was more like a Group 2 or a Group 3,” Hope said.
“We have a few options and we will just work out whether we go to Sydney or back off and go to Adelaide.
“We will see how she pulls up.”
Moreira will reunite with the Hope stable later in the afternoon at Flemington when he rides Fenway in the Schweppervescence Trophy (1600m) and Hope said he was thrilled to be able to utilize the services of the star hoop.
“I was very fortunate,” Hope said.
“When the light weight came in I was trying to find a jockey to ride the weight and Mitchell Friend organised Joao Moreira to ride for us and I very much appreciate it.”
Moreira was brought to Australia by Chris Waller to ride Brazen Beau in the Group 1 Newmarket Handicap (1200m).
