Weight swing has Lee and Cherie Curtis’ talented filly ready to take Flight at Rosehill

A 4.5kg swing in the weights has the Lee and Cherie Curtis-trained Flightcrew poised to turn the tables on In Flight at Rosehill Gardens on Saturday.

Flightcrew is chasing her fourth win for the preparation at Rosehill on Saturday. Picture: Bradley Photos

Trainer Cherie Curtis is banking on a big weight swing in Flightcrew’s favour to turn the tables on In Flight in the Precise Air Handicap (1100m) at Rosehill Gardens on Saturday.

The form three-year-old fillies met at the Gosford provincials last month when In Flight defeated Flightcrew by a length and a half.

Both fillies have since scored last start wins at Rosehill but for their return clash, Flightcrew meets her rival 4.5kg better at the weights.

Curtis, who trains in partnership with her husband Lee, revealed the extra incentive they have for Flightcrew to get a decision over In Flight.

It’s a tight one as Flightcrew wins the Midway at Rosehill! ✈️@aus_turf_club@[e-mail]/XYq7VIzl2p

— SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) June 15, 2024

“Lee waited all day at the Adelaide (Magic Millions) Sale to buy In Flight but Jamie Walter (Proven Thoroughbreds) out-bid him for the filly,” Curtis said.

Walter eventually secured In Flight for $220,000 – remarkably the same price Flightcrew cost at the Gold Coast (Magic Millions) Yearling Sale.

The two fillies have so far won three races each and earned more than $150,000 prizemoney.

Flightcrew has been a model of consistency in five starts this campaign, winning three and recording a second and third placing.

The fillies have also drawn right alongside each other for their return clash on Saturday with In Flight in gate four and Flightcrew coming out of five.

TAB Fixed Odds price assessors have In Flight as early favourite at $5.50 with Flightcrew at $9.50 but Curtis is confident her filly will be hard to beat.

“Flightcrew has always shown us a lot of ability and is very tough,” she said.

“This preparation we wanted to focus on riding her with cover as it allows her to finish her races off strongly.

“Molly (Bourke, apprentice) rides her again and takes 3kg off so we meet In Flight 4.5kg better at the weights.”

Originally published as Weight swing has Lee and Cherie Curtis’ talented filly ready to take Flight at Rosehill