Champagne Cuddles to take Flight

Champagne Cuddles (left) will be out to topple Alizee (right) when they meet in the Flight Stakes.

Champagne Cuddles has shown no sign of flattening out during an ultra-consistent preparation and will line up for the third week in a row when she contests the Group One Flight Stakes at Randwick.

The filly goes to Saturday’s 1600m-feature for three-year-old fillies after her second to Trapeze Artist in last week’s Group One Golden Rose (1400m).

It hasn’t been a preparation that suits all horses but trainer Bjorn Baker says the filly is one who can handle it.

“She’s always shown a lot of ability,” Baker said.

“I thought she’d definitely be competitive in Group races and it’s no surprise to see what she’s done.

“She’s got a great constitution. She’s relaxed and she handles everything well,”

Champagne Cuddles opened her campaign with a third in the Group Two Silver Shadow (1200m) before finishing runner-up in the Group Two Furious Stakes (1200m) and Group Two Tea Rose Stakes (1400m) before the Golden Rose.

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She is the TAB’s second favourite for the Flight at $ behind Godolphin filly Alizee, the Tea Rose Stakes winner.

Baker said she was likely to be spelled after the Flight with the Magic Millions carnival in January in mind.

“More than likely we’ll put her out. She’s a Magic Millions horse so we’ll look at that in mid-January,” Baker said.

Baker opted not to run Embley in Saturday’s $1 million Epsom Handicap (1600m) to instead focus on the Group Two Hill Stakes.

“The 1800 (metres) probably suits him better. It’s half the money of the Epsom so it’s still a very valuable race,” he said.

Greyt Love makes her debut in the Listed Gimcrack Stakes (1000m) for two-year-old fillies after a trial at Canterbury on September 18.

She split Gimcrack favourite Witherspoon ($3.60) and Knockout Girl ($26), who is also in the 16-strong field.