Flying Artie to clash with Extreme Choice after Blue Sapphire win
IT wasn’t the way connections thought Flying Artie would win at Caulfield on Wednesday, but the highly-touted colt got the job done and will now clash with stablemate Extreme Choice in the Group 1 Coolmore Stud Stakes on October 29.
The Artie Schiller three-year-old was the $2 favourite at CrownBet to win the $350,000 feature and it gave punters a few heart flutters before pulling away from $88 outsider Dalradian over the final 100m.
Flying Artie jumped well to sit just off the pace behind Dalradian, but jockey Damien Oliver wanted to keep second favourite Ken’s Dream wide, so he moved off the fence to apply the pressure. Flying Artie took awhile to respond and raced greenly in the straight, but class prevailed in the end.
“He’s a bit above himself today. Wouldn’t normally ride him that close,” Oliver said. “He’s going to have to improve a little bit, no doubt, but we think he’s got nice improvement in him.”
Trainer Mick Price echoed the thoughts of Oliver and believes the talented colt will need to learn better racing manners if it’s to compete at the highest level.
“He did a lot wrong, got to 100 metres out and thought that was it. I’m glad I ran him, he raced like a horse that needed racing,” Price said.
Flying Artie ran a quick 1200m time of 1.09:76 on a good 4 track, but it’s set to race against the likes of Astern and stablemate Extreme Choice in the Group 1 Coolmore Stud Stakes and Price knows it will need to run more professionally to beat Extreme Choice.
“Only 18 days out from the Coolmore which is the race we need to win with him. He raced pretty green, raced like a horse that needed racing. He’s come off a long break, just a bit concerned about how green he was,” Price said.
“The experience will do him good for the Coolmore and then run will do him good fitness wise.
“This horse wouldn’t want to have a wander around in the last furlong and beat Extreme Choice. If I was to have a bet, that’s the way I’d go.”
Flying Artie has firmed into $6.50 with Sportsbet for the Coolmore Stud Stakes with stablemate Extreme Choice on the second line of betting at $3.20.
Astern continues to head the market at $3 following its impressive last start placing in the Roman Consul at Randwick.