Leading Caulfield trainer Mick Price has described his star three year old Flying Artie as a ‘bigger, better horse’ in the lead up to his return to the race track in the Group 1 $750,000 Black Caviar Lightning (1000m) at Flemington on Saturday.
Flying Artie, above pink and black colours, has returned a bigger better horse for the Black Caviar Lightning at Flemington. Photo by Ultimate Racing Photos.
Flying Artie will be having his first run since winning the Group 1 $500,000 Coolmore Stud Stakes (1200m) at Flemington on October 29 which followed a win in the Group 3 $350,000 Catanach’s Jewellers Blue Sapphire Stakes (1200m) at Caulfield on October 12.
Price said that Flying Artie’s preparation has been ideal and he expects the Artie Schiller colt to be right in the money.
“Physically when you see him in the mounting yard he’s a bigger, better horse,” Price told racing.com.
“As a spring three-year-old he wasn’t rushed to run in the Blue Sapphire but he sort of just made the race on time and he won despite being a bit green and all over the place.
“His win in the Coolmore was that of a professional racehorse and I think he’s right where he should be.
“His Cranbourne trial was good, his Sandown gallop was good. He ran a half-mile (800m) in 50 seconds (Tuesday) morning where he sat off a nice running sort of a horse in Katsuro and Ollie (Damien Oliver) was happy and I think he’ll be in the money on Saturday.”
Even though Flying Artie was dominant against the three year olds down the Flemington straight in the Coolmore Stud Stakes, Price is still sslightly concerned that the 1000m of the Lightning might be a bit short for the colt when he returns to headquarters to take on the older sprinters.
“I think if he’s a little bit vulnerable then it may be over 1000m but I think the straight suits and he should finish off strongly and I’m thinking he can win,” Price said.
Early betting at Ladbrokes.com.au for the Black Caviar Lightning has Flying Artie as the second pick at $5 behind the Team Hawkes trained Star Turn at $4.50.
Star Turn also hasn’t raced since the Coolmore Stud Stakes when third to Flying Artie but did beat the older horses at his previous start in the Group 2 $400,000 Mitsubishi Electric Schillaci Stakes (1100m) at Caulfield on October 8.
On the third line of betting at $5.50 is the Bryce Heys trained Speith just ahead of Matthew Ellerton and Simon Zahra’s first up specialist Heatherly at $7.50.
Early market order for the Black Caviar Lightning at Ladbrokes.com.au: $4.50 Star Turn, $5 Flying Artie, $5.50 Speith, $7.50 Heatherly, $8.50 Supido. $9 Fell Swoop, $10 Terravista, $13 The Quarterback, $15 Illustrious Lad, $17 Sheidel, $21 Counterattack, Faatinah, $34 Flamberge, $41 Miss Promiscuity, $81 Missrock, Orujo.
