Moreira to Ride Flying Artie in Newmarket Handicap

Leading Hong Kong jockey Joao Moreira has been booked to take the lightweight ride on Flying Artie in the 2017 Newmarket Handicap (1200m) at Flemington Racecourse on March 11th.

Flying Artie will be partnered by Joao Moreira in the 2017 Newmarket Handicap. Photo: Ultimate Racing Photos

Flying Artie will be partnered by Joao Moreira in the 2017 Newmarket Handicap. Photo: Ultimate Racing Photos

Champion jockey Damien Oliver is the first choice to ride Flying Artie in his races, but the veteran cannot ride under a weight of 53.5kgs and the horse is currently charged with lugging only 52kgs in the Newmarket Handicap 2017.

Trainer Mick Price is pleased to have booked Moreira’s services for the Newmarket Handicap 2017 and believes that he will get the best from the horse in the race.

“With all due respect to Ollie – we spoke to Ollie about it – we’ve got to do our homework early and get prepared for these things and Ollie couldn’t ride under 53.5kg,” Price told Racing Victoria prior to the release of 2017 Newmarket Handicap weights this morning.

“We’re thinking (Flying Artie’s Newmarket weight should be) 52.5kg roughly so we got in early and got permission from the Hong Kong Jockey Club to get Joao out here and I’m looking forward to it.

“The horse didn’t have a hard run in the Lightning and we get three weeks between runs and so he’s certainly nice and bright and fresh.

“I didn’t do anything with him Saturday morning to give him the whole week to bounce back.

“It was a very messy day the Lightning for us, but I’m sure he’ll turn up on the day and he loves the straight and he should run really well.”

Flying Artie debuted to racing for a close second in the Group 3 Maribyrnong Plate (1000m) in November of 2015 and resumed in 2016 for a smart win in the Group 3 Blue Diamond Prelude C&G (1100m).

Finishing second to stable mate Extreme Choice in the Group 1 Blue Diamond Stakes (1200m) before ending his campaign third in the Group 1 Golden Slipper (1200m), the Artie Schiller colt resumed for a comfortable, albeit shaky win in the Group 3 Blue Sapphire Stakes (1200m) before storming home to win the Group 1 Coolmore Stud Stakes (1200m) on Derby Day.

Flying Artie is currently available at early 2017 Newmarket Handicap odds of $7 with online bookie Ladbrokes.com.au.

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Jared Timms

Jared graduated with a journalism degree in 2011. He is a keen sports fan and has enjoyed many accolades for his lively writing style and comprehensive coverage of major sporting events and horse racing. Today, you can find Jared cheering on his beloved Manchester City with a beer in hand.