Smart colt Flying Artie is out of contention for the Group 1 $1.25m Lexus Newmarket Handicap (1200m) at Flemington after a degree of mucus was detected in his lungs after being scoped.
Flying Artie, above in pink and black colours, is out of contention for the Newmarket Handicap at Flemington. Photo by Ultimate Racing Photos.
The Mick Price trained Flying Artie was currently the second favourite for the 1200m dash down the Flemington straight at $5 with Ladbrokes.com.au and was to be ridden by Hong Kong’s Magic Man Joao Moreira.
Moreira will now replace Craig Newitt on stablemate Extreme Choice who is raced in similar interests to Flying Artie with Newgate Farm and China Horse Club Racing Pty Ltd among the ownership.
Damien Oliver was aboard Flying Artie first up in the Group 1 $750,000 Black Caviar Lightning (1000m) at Flemington on February 18 but the Artie Schiller colt had no luck in the run and failed to find a clear passage before finishing seventh to the Joe Pride trained Terravista.
Moreira is a regular visitor to the Racing Carnivals in Australia and was successful on the Lindsay Park trained Sheidel in the Group 1 $500,000 The Resimax Group Oakleigh Plate (1100m) at Caulfield on February 25.
The Magic Man rode at Randwick last Saturday without claiming a victory from eight rides but made up with a record eight winners at Sha Tin in Hong Kong on Sunday.
“I really don’t have words to describe it, it’s amazing. We know how tough it is to make it here in Hong Kong,” Moreira said.
“I didn’t expect it to happen, to be honest. To ride eight winners in a day here in Hong Kong is more than special.”
The Bryce Heys trained Spieth has shortened up slightly following the announcement that Flying Artie won’t be taking his place in the field and remains at the top of the market order at $3.80 with Extreme Choice now the second pick at $6.
Spieth deserves his spot at the top of the betting after being beaten a nose at his last two runs down the Flemington straight for a second to Malaguerra in the Group 1 $1m Darley Classic (1200m) at Flemington on November 5 during the 2016 Melbourne Cup Carnival before resuming for a second to Terravista in the Black Caviar Lightning.
Extreme Choice is the winner of two Group 1 races and during his two year old season won the Group 1 $1.5m Ladbrokes Blue Diamond Stakes (1200m) at Caulfield during the 2016 Melbourne Autumn Carnival and then resumed in the Spring as a three year old to beat the older horses in the Group 1 $500,000 Charter Keck Cramer Moir Stakes (1000m) at Moonee Valley.
The Not A Single Doubt colt has had one run back for the Autumn for a third behind Sheidel and Faatinah in the Group 1 $500,000 The Resimax Group Oakleigh Plate (1100m) at Caulfield on February 25.
Early market order for the Newmarket Handicap at Ladbrokes.com.au: $3.80 Spieth, $6 Extreme Choice, $8 Star Turn, Illustrious Lad, $13 Hellbent, Chautauqua, $15 Redkirk Warrior, Terravista, Sheidel, Super Cash, $17 Fell Swoop, $21 Supido, Counterattack, Tivaci, Voodoo Lad, $26 Faatinah, Flamberge, The Quarterback, $34 or better the rest.
