Global Goal wins Flight Stakes to give Dylan Gibbons a third Group 1
John Sargent secured his 12th Group 1 winner as a trainer and Dylan Gibbons his third as a jockey as regally bred Global Goal captured the Flight Stakes at Randwick.
Global Goal surged late to overhaul De Armas in the Group 1 Flight Stakes at Randwick on Saturday, giving jockey Dylan Gibbons his third win at the highest level.
The John Sargent-trained filly started at $3.30 and won by a neck from the Chris Waller-trained De Armas ($12) while David Payne’s Bangkok Hottie, the $2.80 favourite, finished a further half-neck away in third.
Global Goal hit winning form at the right time after finishing third in the Group 2 Silver Shadow Stakes and Tea Rose Stakes. Gibbons had the experience of her Tea Rose placing to draw on as he assessed her Flight Stakes barrier.
“When I saw I drew out today, I thought we’re going to get clear air, and when you give her clear air she’s an absolute demon,” Gibbons said.
“So once I set out after them – and to her credit she has chased down some good fillies because that last furlong I thought I was motoring well enough to win but when I wasn’t taking ground off them I got a bit worried. But her last fifty or twenty metres, that’s a horse that wants to win.”
Sargent praised Gibbons’s decision to make his move early.
“Dylan rode her a treat today. It was always going to be tactical but he used his head, got on his ‘bike’ early and she outstayed them,” he said.
Global Goal is by Pinatubo out of the Fastnet Rock mare Tides, a full sister to multiple Group 1 winner Shoals. She is also a great-granddaughter of blue hen Shantha’s Choice.
Dean Hawthorne Bloodstock bought her for $250,000 as a yearling, and she races in Jonathan Munz’s Pinecliff Racing colours.
“We have a younger half sister by Maurice that looks very promising, too. I have had some good fillies for Jonathan and it is great to get this result for him,” Sargent said.
Sargent is considering the Spring Champion Stakes or Thousand Guineas for Global Goal, with a spell also an option. He expects further improvement next preparation.
“There is not a lot of her and she will be better in the autumn,” he said.
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