News

Artie flying to the Coolmore

12th Oct 2016

Flying Artie will join a cavalcade of star 3YOs in the Coolmore Stud Stakes at Flemington on Derby Day following his first-up win in today’s Group 3 Blue Sapphire Stakes at Caulfield.

Resuming from his 2YO campaign, which saw him run placings in both the Group 1 Blue Diamond Stakes and Group 1 Golden Slipper, Flying Artie was well found by punters, who backed him into a dominant $2 favourite.

And as per usual, he didn’t let his supporters down, careering away to lead in a trifecta of Inglis graduates in the $350,000 feature.

Flying Artie (Artie Schiller x Flying Ruby) beat Dalradian and Derryn.

Flying Artie sold to Paul Whelan of Luskin Park Stud for $50,000 at the 2015 Inglis Easter Yearling Sale, from the Goodwood Farm draft.

Today’s victory was his second from five career starts – he also has three minor placings – and took his career earnings to $949,000.

His next assignment will be the Coolmore Stud Stakes, which is shaping as one of the races of the spring.

Such was the authority of today’s win, Flying Artie firmed into the fourth line of betting at $7 for the dash for cash down the Flemington straight on October 29.

There are already six star 3YOs confirmed as heading toward the race – fellow Inglis graduates Extreme Choice and Russian Revolution as well as Astern, Star Turn and Capitalist.

Flying Artie’s trainer Mick Price, who also puts the polish on Extreme Choice, was thrilled with today’s first-up performance.

“I thought he did a lot wrong, especially when he got to the 100m mark and thought the job was done, he clocked off, took a bit of riding but gee I’m glad I ran him because he raced like a horse that needs racing,’’ Price said.

“There’s only 18 days until the Coolmore, which is the race that we need to win with him, but today will help.

“He’s come off a long break so the first thing I’ll be doing is allowing him as much time as he needs to bounce back and get over it. The experience will do him good for the Coolmore and the run will do him good fitness-wise.’’

Flying Artie’s win continued a dominant run of 3YOs to have come through an Inglis sale ring to win feature races in recent weeks.

They include Yankee Rose (Group 1 Spring Champion Stakes), Extreme Choice (Group 1 Moir Stakes), Russian Revolution (Group 2 Roman Consul Stakes), Omei Sword (Group 2 Silver Shadow Stakes), Swear (Group 3 Ming Dynasty), Selenia (Group 3 Champagne Stakes) and Hey Doc (Group 2 Bill Stutt Stakes).

Meanwhile Keen Array made it a black-type double for Inglis graduates when he won the Listed Italktravel Stakes (1200m) at Caulfield.

Keen Array (Bel Esprit x Moorea) was catalogued at the 2014 Inglis Premier Yearling Sale but failed to meet his $25,000 reserve.