Spillane And Sky Speeding Into The Spotlight

Wednesday, 24 June 2009 00:00

Today Speedy Sky will become Elesha Spillane's first ever runner on a Victorian metropolitan racecourse - but it certainly won't be her last.

In fact Speedy Sky mirror's Spillane's fast rise up the Tasmanian training ranks, where Spillane currently holds the envious title of highest winning strike rate (18.5%) of any Tasmanian based trainer.

But all of those statistics amount to very little today at Sandown where Spillane's star young filly will meet none of her usual suspects.

"This is the big league and I'm hoping that her stakes placings during the Tasmanian summer carnival hold her in good stead", said Spillane referring to her runs in the Tasmanian Oaks and Strutt Stakes.

Spillane is confident that Speedy Sky will be more than competitive in the restricted three year old fillies' event after meeting open boys first up at Launceston.

"Had she won anymore races in Tasmania she would've been weighted and rated out of her class in Victoria, so the timing is right", said Spillane.

A phone call during the week from Damien Oliver's manager also boosted Spillane's confidence.

"That was a surprise and something that I'm very pleased about", gloated Spillane.

Travelling by boat, like Wealthy Lad the week before, Speedy Sky arrived in great condition on Tuesday morning and Spillane is adamant that she will be on the boat and heading home win, lose or draw.

"We are definitely going home after the race, if she was to win then I would consider bringing her back for the final of this race series".

The paddock isn't far away though for the blossoming star and Spillane is focused on the bigger picture.

"She will learn a lot from the trip and hopefully it will benefit her for some of the richer races in Tassie in summer - such as the Devonport Cup", said Spillane who is keen to win her rich home town feature.

Speedy Sky is one of 15 horses in the Tamar Racing Team, an initiative of Racing Tasmania managed by Cyberhorse. Click on the link to find out how you can follow Speedy Sky and 14 other horses for only $99 a year.