Coolmore Stud Stakes the Target for Flying Artie

Mick Price has been thrilled with the benefit taken by Flying Artie in his time away from racing, and has revealed the three-year-old will likely be set for a first-up appearance in the Group 1 Coolmore Stud Stakes (1200m) at Flemington on Derby Day.

Flying Artie will be set for the 2016 Coolmore Stud Stakes first-up. Photo: Ultimate Racing Photos

Flying Artie is yet to finish outside the first three through his four start career since debuting to competition in November last year; peaking with a particularly smart performance to finish third in the Group 1 Golden Slipper (1200m) at Rosehill Gardens last time out on March 19^th.

Price told Racing Ahead that the Artie Schiller colt does not require a lot of work to return to peak condition, and believes he will be primed for a first-up run in the Coolmore Stud Stakes 2016 on October 29^th.

“He’ll actually go into it first-up,” Price said.

“He’s in good condition, he’s defined in the body a bit and he’s not a fat colt, he’s quite an athletic colt.

“He’s back at Caulfield and is only running even times at this stage, but I’m really happy with him. He’s really good in himself.”

Flying Artie impressed via a number of strong pieces of work prior to his debut, and did not lose any admirers when he overcame a slow start to finish a close second behind Power Trip in the Group 3 Maribyrnong Plate (1000m) at Flemington on November 7^th.

Immediately returned to the paddock with a view towards major autumn two-year-old targets, the colt out of Flying Ruby produced a slick turn of foot in the final straight at Caulfield to take out the Group 3 Blue Diamond Prelude C&G (1100m) on February 13^th.

Unlucky to be allocated the wide and awkward barrier 15 for his run in the Group 1 Blue Diamond Stakes (1200m) a fortnight later, Flying Artie settled off the pace in the field of sixteen but produced arguably the run of the race when charging home for second behind stable mate Extreme Choice.

One of four Group 1 feature races at Flemington on Derby Day, the 2016 Coolmore Stud Stakes is shaping as one of the Spring Carnival’s most highly-anticipated races.