Skyman flies high at Caulfield
Damien Thornton drives Skyman to the line to win at Caulfield. Photo: Darryl Sherer
Go Racing’s run of success in Australia continued at Caulfield on Saturday with Skyman posting an impressive win in the Geoff Murphy Handicap (1600m).
Go Racing’s Matt Allnutt was particularly pleased with the victory after Stardome was beaten a nose at Eagle Farm earlier in the day and the inform Hasabro finished third in the open 1500 at Ellerslie.
Skyman was expected to put in a bold performance after he finished runner-up last start in the Yarra Valley Cup (1950m) when suffering an interrupted run.
Jo Taylor, representing the Chris Waller stable, was pleased to see the five-year-old gelding get a deserved win and had not been concerned about the drop in trip.
“He was unlucky in the Yarra Valley Cup and that form certainly held up today in the Easter Cup (won by Yarra Valley Cup winner Hang Man) as well,” Taylor told racing.com.
“Even though we were coming back in trip he is a horse that has been racing in fantastic form, Damien (Thornton, jockey) knows him so well and they seem to gel well together.
“It was great to get the result.”
Thornton echoed Taylor’s sentiments though is looking forward to returning to a staying trip where he feels Skyman will be at his best.
“He has been pretty good to me this bloke so I can’t complain,” Thornton said.
“He was a bit stiff to not win the Yarra Valley Cup last start but he drew better today and had the right run and went well.
“He did a really good job. He is still probably a little bit dour and ready for 2000m but back to the mile with blinkers worked today.
“Fresh he is certainly effective enough over 1400m but now he is getting into his prep I think 2000m is his right trip.”
Skyman’s win was particularly satisfying for Go Racing’s Racing Manager Matt Allnutt who purchased the son of Mukhadram for 42,000gns out of the Tattersalls Autumn Horses in Training Sale in October 2019.
“I rang Albert from Newmarket and told him I thought I had found one but didn’t know if we had enough,” Allnutt recalled. “Guy Mulcaster thought he might have been outside our budget but we had one bid, which was the last bid, and we got him.”
Since landing in Australia Skyman has won four races and nearly A$300,000 in stakes.