News

Flying Artie, Chautauqua in world's best

25th Jan 2017

Flying Artie and Chautauqua have been rewarded for an outstanding 2016 by being named the best of their domain in the latest Longines World’s Best Racehorse rankings.

In the rankings released overnight, Easter colt Flying Artie was crowned the best 3YO Sprinter with a rating of 120, while Chautauqua was again rated the World’s Best Sprinter on 122.

It was the ninth time in the past 10 years an Inglis graduate has been crowned World’s Best Sprinter.

Following a successful 2YO campaign which saw him run placings in the Group 1 Blue Diamond and Group 1 Golden Slipper, Flying Artie reached his peak when winning the Group 1 Coolmore Stud Stakes at Flemington on Derby Day.

In what was a stellar crop of spring 3YOs, the Coolmore was billed by many as ‘the race of the Spring’ and Flying Artie proved he was the best of the best.

His trainer Mick Price was thrilled for the horse and his owners when informed of the ranking.

“He’s obviously a top colt, the best colt, and Newgate and China Horse Club and all the owners have got a very special and very valuable prospect on their hands,’’ Price said.

“I think he showed everyone in the spring that he’s the best. He beat the best in the Coolmore so he thoroughly deserves this tag.’’

Bred by John Shannon, Flying Artie (Artie Schiller x Flying Ruby) was purchased by Paul Whelan of Luskin Park at the 2015 Australian Easter Yearling Sale from the Goodwood Farm draft.

He was initially raced primarily by Whelan and Wilf Mula of Aston Bloodstock before Newgate Farm and China Horse Club bought a majority share in partnership following his Coolmore win.

Flying Artie has raced six times for three wins and three placings and $1,256,500 in prizemoney.

He will be raced for the remainder of his career by a syndicate that includes Newgate and China Horse Club, SF Bloodstock, Matthew Sandblom and his initial owners Luskin Park and Aston Bloodstock.

In addition to Flying Artie’s success, Chautauqua claimed the World’s Best Sprinter title for a second consecutive year.

In a brilliant 2016, he won the Lightning Stakes and TJ Smith Stakes – both at Group 1 level – in Australia before beating the world in the Group 1 Chairman’s Sprint Prize in Hong Kong in May.

Fellow Inglis Easter graduate Chautauqua will be set by his trainers Michael, Wayne and John Hawkes to defend all three Group 1 crowns in 2017.

“He’s come back really well, the horse is great and it’s good he’s been recognised again,’’ Michael Hawkes said.

“While his program isn’t finalised yet, the plan is to resume in the Lightning, and eventually get to the TJ and then ideally back to Hong Kong.’’

Chautauqua followed a stellar list of Inglis graduates to have been crowned World’s Best Sprinter after Able Friend (2015), Black Caviar (2013, 12, 11, 10), Sacred Kingdom (09, equal with Scenic Blast) and Weekend Hussler (08).

Other Inglis graduates who scored highly on the latest Longines World Rankings list include Contentment, Jameka, Extreme Choice and Lucky Bubbles (119), Not Listenin’tome (118), Luger, Malaguerra, Prized Icon and Russian Revolution (117), Fell Swoop and Strathmore (116) and Able Friend, Gun Pit, Mac De Lago, Scales of Justice, Yankee Rose and Zac Spirit (115).