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Soundly beaten by Dignity Dancer in Melbourne in the Group 1 Australian Guineas, Sky Heights started as the underdog in the Rosehill Guineas, and was ridden for the first time by Glen Boss, who rode a clever race, leading all the way, and the gelding kicked gamely when headed by first Arena, then Dignity Dancer in the straight to win by a head. He then confirmed the form with another brilliant all the way win in the AJC Australian Derby, only this time by the more decisive margin of one length. In his final run for the season, Sky Heights ran a creditable third to Intergaze in the Group 1 Queen Elizabeth Stakes on April 17. In the 1999 Spring, Sky Heights returned with a second to his stablemate Inaflurry in the Liston Stakes, before recording wins in both the Craiglee and Turnbull Stakes. He then started favourite, and with the steadier of 56.5kg (the official weights were raised 1.5kg by the VATC under the rules of racing), he defeated Laebeel in the Caulfield Cup in a thrilling finish, conceding the mare 5.5kg. The race was yet another milestone for NZ's wonder stallion Zabeel, who sired the trifecta, with Inaflurry running a brave third. Sky Heights then ran very well when 3rd behind the brilliant Sunline in the Cox Plate, before starting favourite in the Melbourne Cup following the withdrawal of Kayf Tara and the poor run of Tie The Knot in the MacKinnon Stakes. Unfortunately Sky Heights was knocked from pillar to post in a roughly run Cup, and finished 17th. He appeared to have cut his tongue, as he returned to scale with blood coming from his mouth. It was a disappointing end to an otherwsie faultless spring. After a back injury ruled the horse out of the 2000 Autumn carnivals (sustained from the rough-house Melbourne Cup), Sky Heights returned as a 5yo in the spring. Looking magnificent, the horse took slightly longer to come to hand than as a younger horse, but he did so in emphatic fashion with a commanding victory in that very very good horse's race, the Yalumba Caulfield Stakes. As seen from the photographs, it was a very strong and easy win, and naturally his connections were brimming with confidence, even stating that they would "smash Sunline". That of course never happened, and Sky Heights put in probably the worst run of his career when he finished at the tail of the field behind the mighty mare, although he was in good company with Tie the Knot and Shogun Lodge also finishing at the rear. He then put in another substandard effort in the MacKinnon Stakes, and was later found to be suffering from stomach ulcers, thereby necessitating a good spell. |
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