Girl In Flight opened her career with a brilliant victory for Yarradale Stud at Pakenham on Tuesday.

The Robbie Griffiths trained grey filly took all the short-cuts in transit to win running away by two lengths in the Dalton Engineers Maiden Plate (1309m).

Girl In Flight (3f Commands – Rossiya by Machiavellian) changed hands for $60,000 at the 2012 Inglis Melbourne Premier Sale.  Yarradale owner Ron Sayers kept a share and Griffiths cut the rest out among stable clients Bob Baumann, Andrew Doyle and Frank Giacco.

“She has a great international pedigree and was a real bargain,” Griffiths said.  “She’s an athletic filly and light on her feet.  She’s lovely and relaxed and, being a November foal, will keep improving with maturity.”

Her dam Rossiya (Fr) won at Sandown in England for Sheikh Mohammed before arriving in Australia in 2003.  She is a sister to Listed Saint-Cloud winner Queen Catherine and descends from G1 Hollywood Oaks winner Princess Karenda.

Yarradale bought her for $42,500 at the 2010 Magic Millions National Sale when she was carrying Girl In Flight.

Rossiya is also the dam of the Peter Moody trained stayer Medvedev who won at Seymour and Benalla late last year.  He relocated north for a Canterbury victory at his penultimate run in June.

WA trainer Steve Wolfe bought a Musket – Rossiya colt for $20,000 at the 2013 Yarradale Stud yearling sale.  He has been named Kostyazilch.

Rossiya will be covered by Patronize (Redoute’s Choice) this year.  He stands in association with Yarradale at Darling View Thoroughbreds.

GIRL IN FLIGHT
Yarradale homebred pictured before the 2012 Melbourne Premier yearling sale