3 minute read

For the moment, it’s a dream for Robert Witten, but after Fly With Caution’s tough win, he doesn’t think it’s an impossibility.

Witten believes progressive gelding Fly With Caution looks bound for better things after carrying big weight at Ascot on Saturday.

Lumping 60kg, Fly With Caution appeared vulnerable when he hit the front early in the straight, but he responded when challenged by Cool Memory.

The three-year-old was there to be beaten, but his grit and determination was able to drag him across the line and register his third straight win.

It completes an almost flawless campaign for the son of Galah who ran a close second to Influencing when first up at Belmont in March.

With 60kg on his back, his first go at 1600m, punching the breeze outside the leader and pulling out all stops in the run home, Witten was blown away by Fly With Caution's victory.

It's now ignited a spark which he hopes will light the fire and breathe hope that Fly With Caution can measure up to top level racing at Ascot later in the year.

"Well, we all dream, don't we," Witten said.

"We'll keep dreaming and see what happens.

"We'll keep it to ourselves, but I'm sure most racing people have the same dream.

"We'll see what summer brings."

If Fly With Caution can reach the same status as Lizzy Long Legs in the summer of 2000-1, Witten could be in for a good time come carnival time.

Lizzy Long Legs has given Witten his biggest success as a trainer with three black-type wins including the Group 3 Scahill Stakes (1400m).

A week earlier the Steel Glow mare ran third to Northerly and Old Comrade in the Group 1 Railway Stakes.

Fly With Caution is a long way from Lizzy Long Legs' classy record, but Witten said he doubts he's ever trained a more durable horse.

"I think he's the toughest horse I've ever trained," Witten said.

"You don't get to the bottom of him.

"You can gallop him and he comes in and bounces around like he hasn't been out of his box.

"When they joined him I thought we're going to find where he's at.

"But he toughed it out, he's a good horse, a nice horse.

"I can't be any happier, I train him for my family.

"My mum who is 83 owns him, it's pretty special.

"The horse goes to the paddock now, he's done enough."