Heatherly on target for Valley return

Speedster Heatherly is on target to defend her Carlyon Stakes crown after winning a second Flemington jump-out.

The Mathew Ellerton and Simon Zahra-trained five-year-old won a jump-out on Friday where she was pitted against Group One Goodwood winner Vega Magic.

It came a week after she lowered the colours of Newmarket Handicap winner Redkirk Warrior in an 800m jump-out at Flemington.

On that occasion the mare was timed at 47.06 seconds in foggy conditions and she ran a blistering 43.08 seconds on Friday.

“She trialled super,” Zahra said.

“It was a quick trial. We actually got them breaking 43 seconds.

“She beat a Group One winner and there was daylight to third and then daylight again.

“It was a pretty hot trial.”

Heatherly won the Listed Carlyon Stakes first-up last year and Zahra said the mare was set to make her reappearance in the race at Moonee Valley on August 26.

Zahra said the timing into the race after th two jump-outs was ideal.

“We’ve got a couple of weeks so we can freshen her up a bit now and make sure she’s all OK,” Zahra said.

“But she seems in good order.”

Heatherly has yet to record a Group One win, which would greatly enhance her future as a broodmare.

She ran third to Flamberge and Fell Swoop in last year’s Oakleigh Plate at Caulfield and was second to Extreme Choice, with Chautauqua fourth, in the Moir Stakes at Moonee Valley last September.

Heatherly hasn’t raced since finishing eighth behind Russian Revolution on an unsuitable heavy track in the Group One Galaxy at Rosehill in March.