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By Ray Hickson

It’s long been jockey Jay Ford’s view that it would only be a matter of when In Flight graduated to stakes company and he’s rapt to be back on board the mare to chase successive Listed wins at Randwick on Saturday.

Jockey Jay Ford (Pic: Bradley Photos).

Ford partnered In Flight in her first two runs this campaign but had committed to riding Whinchat at the Scone carnival so wasn’t able to handle her in the Bright Shadow three weeks ago in Brisbane where he said it was a deserved stakes win for the mare.

With that under her belt and the promise of another wet track in the Listed $200,000 Vinery Stud Bob Charley AO Stakes (1100m) he says there’s every chance the Joe Pride-trained mare can repeat.

“I was rapt to see In Flight win because I’ve had a lot to do with her throughout her career,’’ Ford said.

“She’s come back really well this prep, both her seconds in Sydney were leading towards a win, and finding a heavy track in Queensland last start was a real advantage for her.

“She’s been trending that way and to get those conditions she was dominant.

“Her asset is she’s a wet tracker, we’re going to get conditions that are favourable again.”

In Flight, $3.70 with TAB on Wednesday, worked her way through the grades this time last year with Ford in the saddle and he said one of the more impressive aspects of her last start win was the strength she showed bullocking into the clear then balancing up and putting the race away.

He concedes the Bob Charley AO, a race he won four years ago on Adelong, is a bit tougher given it’s not restricted to fillies and mares but she measured right up alongside her stablemate Dragonstone, winner of this race three years ago, second-up at Hawkesbury.

“This race has a touch more depth to it but her form this preparation has been faultless so I’d like to think we can expect another good run from her,’’ Ford said.

“She’s a very consistent horse, she’s very adaptable and can race up on the pace or off the pace.

“It looks a similar set up, a bit of rain around to keep the track in that soft to heavy condition is good and she’s well weighted.”

Ford was rapt with the performance of Whinchat when he resumed form over a year off and was run down in the shadows by The Instructor in the Luskin Star Stakes at Scone.

He likes the fact trainer David Pfieffer has waited three weeks to step him out again in the Singapore Pools Handicap (1300m) and says the gelding’s work in the interim has been excellent.

“He’d been really prepared for that run first-up, it was a good build up and had three trials going in so we expected a good performance,’’ Ford said.

“And it was a winning performance, albeit he’s run second. They were dominant and cleared out from the rest of the field.

“He repelled The Instructor all the way down the running and it was that last 30-40m he just started to feel the run.

“His run was tip top and his behaviour was really good too, he’s not always the easiest horse to manage or ride.”

Whinchat has never raced on a heavy track but Ford said his racing style is a plus if conditions are as such come race day.

That’s where the gap between runs helps.

“I suppose putting in a performance like that after so long off the scene there’s a chance he could regress second-up,’’ he said.

In Flight wins at Doomben on May 17

“But I’ve sat on him a couple of times since and he feels, and has worked, like he’s come through the run well.

“It would be preferable on good ground but we’re not going to get that and if you’re nit picking for a negative it’s probably that. He’ll do his thing out in front and bowl along and it’ll be catch me if you can.”

Jay Ford on Oh Diamond Lil (race 6): “I galloped her the other morning, she’s a nice horse. Lightly raced with a good record. She looked nice the other day at Scone, she presented in the straight then took while but when challenged she was strong late. She’s going to eventually get over a bit further than what she’s been racing over. She’ll lay up in the first three or four and give herself every chance.”

All the fields, form and replays for Saturday’s Randwick meeting