Flight Stakes Preview: Demi to bounce back

Randwick Racecourse.

Head of Timeform Australia Gary Crispe looks ahead to the Flight Stakes at Randwick, due off at 06:20 BST...

Saturday's G1 Flight Stakes affords the handy filly Dear Demi the opportunity to show her last start Tea Rose run was completely out of character.

Ridden by James McDonald, Dear Demi became awkwardly placed throughout the race and was waited with but no clear running presented itself for the filly. She eventually finished fourth two lengths from shock winner Longport. There is no doubt the return to Randwick and stepping up to 1600m will be beneficial for the filly. After all she ran second to Pierro here over 1600m in the G1 Champagne Stakes in the Autumn, that run remaining her peak Timeform figure.

Two starts back, Dear Demi swamped a good field of fillies in the G2 Furious Stakes over 1400m in a near peak rating performance. I am expecting her to repeat that Timeform rating this afternoon.

Norzita who nosed out Longport in the G2 Tea Rose Stakes only to lose the race in the stewards room is the main danger. The Bart Cummings-trained filly was runner up to crack three-year-old Proisir the start prior and that run sees her right in the winning mix today.

Unbeaten filly Urban Groove from the Gai Waterhouse stable is the unknown filly in the race. She is two from two but steps up class and distance from the Listed Reginald Allen Stakes over 1200m last Saturday. A ratings riser Urban Groove cannot be taken lightly and will have Nash Rawiller in the saddle for the first time. If successful, Urban Groove would give Waterhouse her eighth Flight Stakes win.

Visit timeform.com to download FREE Timeform cards for Saturday's meetings at Flemington and Randwick.