3 minute read

Top filly Learning To Fly has suffered a setback and won’t line up in Adelaide.

Learning To Fly has been scratched from the Group One Goodwood at Morphettville and will return home to Sydney as connections consider their next move.

Trainer Annabel Neasham said the three-year-old was showing signs that she wasn't one hundred per cent, prompting her withdrawal from Saturday's $1 million sprint.

"Unfortunately, she is a little bit off colour today," Neasham told Sydney's Sky Racing radio.

"We've just had to scratch her unfortunately, so she won't be going around."

Neasham hasn't ruled out rerouting Learning To Fly to one of the winter carnival features in Queensland where the filly holds nominations for the Kingsford Smith Cup (1300m) and Stradbroke Handicap (1400m).

However, given her owners Coolmore own an Everest slot, there is also the option to spell the filly immediately with the spring in mind, and Neasham says Learning To Fly wouldn't be out of place in the October sprint.

"She certainly wouldn't, not with that big powerful finish on her," Neasham said.

"We will get her home and assess her and go from there."

Learning To Fly was one of the better two-year-olds of her generation but was injured during the 2023 Golden Slipper when she was badly checked, causing her to stumble and dislodge jockey Chad Schofield.

She missed the spring but returned earlier this year with a close second to Kimochi in the Light Fingers Stakes and again showed a glimpse of her best form when unleashing a barnstorming finish from last to beat all but Climbing Star in the Group 1 Robert Sangster Stakes (1200m) at Morphettville last start.

Her withdrawal leaves a field of 16 for Saturday's Goodwood (1200m) for which star Perth mare Amelia's Jewel is a $4 favourite.