By Ray Hickson
Dylan Gibbons has had his eye on Global Goal as a potential Group 1 winner way back in March and he says the time has come for her to realise it in Saturday’s $750,000 Darley Flight Stakes (1600m) at Randwick.
It was a short trial at Randwick where Gibbons jumped on board the John Sargent-trained filly for the first time and she left such an impression that nobody else has partnered her in a race or trial since.
After fast-finishing placings in the Silver Shadow and Tea Rose, Global Goal steps to a distance Gibbons feels will suit her a lot more than in that trial hitout.
“She flew out in a 740m trial and ran along and showed good speed, gave me a nice feel. It was quite the opposite to what she does in races,” Gibbons said.
“I thought she had raw ability, she stretches out well and she can hit a good top speed.
“I was happy to follow her to Wagga and it’s led to some nice races.
“She’s got some black type placings to her name and it’d be huge to repay John and the owners with a Group 1 beside her.”
Gibbons has two Group 1 wins on his CV and it’s no surprise that he rates the three-year-old as a very good chance to add a third.
He said both thirds in the Group 2 lead ups were extremely promising and just hopes he doesn’t have to concede as much start as she did in the Tea Rose where he intended to be closer.
“First-up we had to cop our medicine, second-up I gave her a bit of a squeeze to be handier and midrace when she was in tight room she didn’t travel the best but when she got out she was good late,’’ he said.
“She’s been set for a race like the Flight Stakes so I couldn’t take any chances early in the prep but those runs have put her in good stead for a mile.
“No matter where she ends up she’s not going to be spotting them too big a start.
“Some of them might be suspect at a mile and if it’s going to be a dash home she is going to need to be in striking range to get past them.”
Global Goal, $3.20 with TAB on Thursday, still has over a length to make up on Bangkok Hottie and Striking Alibi for their latest clash and that’s something Gibbons respects.
“It’s a small field but we’ve still got to try and turn the tables on the likes of Bangkok Hottie.’’ he said.
“I know James’s (McDonald) horse and mine had the flashing light on them but we were sitting back and had a nice cosy run where she was outside the leader doing the work and it looked like she did what she needed to do.
“Even though we were charging late I’m still not underestimating her at a mile.
“The way my filly races, she conserves her energy so she’s always going to be one of the strongest closers.
“I might be able to put her in a handier spot in a race that looks to lack a bit of speed, in a rolling spot, she’s a lot better with clear air and she hasn’t had a lot of that this prep.”
