She was the first filly home in the Golden Slipper and has won a leg of the prestigious Princess Series, but Four Moves Ahead still has one important goal left to chase.
With the five juvenile Group 1 races all claimed by colts, whichever filly wins Saturday’s Flight Stakes will be the first of its generation to land an elite-level victory.
Trainer John Sargent is hoping Four Moves Ahead can get the job done in the race which has been her campaign aim.
“It would be a good race to win, especially for (owner) Jonathan Munz. He’s into his breeding,” Sargent said.
“It will make her a very valuable broodmare when she retires, so it would be a really good one to tick, a Group One with her.”
Four Moves Ahead was arguably the benchmark of Sydney’s juvenile fillies, winning the Sweet Embrace Stakes and finishing fourth behind a trifecta of males in the Golden Slipper.
She has been equally competitive at three, resuming with a placing in the Silver Shadow Stakes before getting back to last from a wide draw in the Furious and storming home to run an eye-catching fifth.
Ridden closer to the speed in the Tea Rose Stakes (1400m) last start, Four Moves Ahead atoned with a dogged victory and Sargent expects her to enjoy a distance rise to 1600m in the final leg of the four-race Princess Series.
“Her half-sister Emeralds won the Angst at Randwick over a mile and this filly has shown exactly the same sort of attributes, so I don’t think it will be a worry,” Sargent said.
Regular rider Nash Rawiller will partner Four Moves Ahead, who has drawn awkwardly in barrier 13.
Sargent is putting his faith in Rawiller to navigate the best path from that draw but says the filly is versatile enough to adapt.
“She never seems to get a good barrier. She seems to overcome it though,” Sargent said.
“She’s got good tactical speed and of all the starts, probably the mile at Randwick is most forgiving (of wide draws).
“It’s a long way down the back straight and Nash knows her well. He’ll work it out by the time the (first) turn comes.”
Sargent will also saddle up Left Reeling, who will sport blinkers for the first time on Saturday.
The Dundeel filly is still a maiden but has been competitive in all four runs and will be on trial for an Oaks tilt.
