Price dreams of Royal Ascot run for Flying Artie
FLYING Artie is looking to maintain a strong first-up record as the $4.60 favourite in Saturday’s Group One Black Caviar Lightning Stakes at Flemington.
The Three-year-old colt has two wins and one placing from three first-up performances and is looking to make it a hat-trick of victories after winning impressively last time out in the Coolmore Stud Stakes on Victoria Derby Day.
The Artie Schiller progeny is the main elect in the market ahead of Spieth ($5 at Ladbrokes.com.au) and Star Turn, which is at the $4.80 price via Sportsbet.com.au.
The colt could have not been more impressive in its last two victories, but trainer Mick Price sounded an ominous warning to his rivals on Saturday.
“I think the horse has improved from when he was a baby spring colt in his three-year-old year,” he said.
“When he ran in the Blue Sapphire, he was still quite green – I know there was an incident in the race – but even when he hit the front he wanted to pull up in that race.
“Then I thought he improved a lot – that race brought him on for the Coolmore. He raced like a professional horse in the Coolmore.”
Despite the focus being on Saturday’s group one sprint, Price already has grand ambitions for his runner.
Price believes a strong showing on Saturday could lead to a tilt conquering Royal Ascot, as the eponymous horse of Saturday’s feature did five years ago.
“Personally, I think the horse would be suited to go to Ascot in the 1200 (Diamond Jubilee),” Price said.
“I think if you run in the Lightning, then run him in the Newmarket then run in the T.J. (Smith) and the information from all those races will tell you (whether to go to Ascot).”
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