Two year-old Artie Schiller (USA) colt Flying Artie was bought by Paul Whelan for $50,000 from the Goodwood Farm draft during Session II at the Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale last year and has been a natural runner from day one.
Spelled after finishing an unlucky second on debut in the Group III VRC Maribyrnong Plate last spring, the Mick Price trained colt trialled impressively at Geelong on February 1.
Well fancied to win on his return, Flying Artie settled back in the field for Damien Oliver after jumping from an outside gate and zoomed to the line to catch talented Star Witness colt Star Turn near the line.
"It was a very good win as he was caught wide and I had to go a bit early, but he knuckled down and chased hard," said Oliver, who will not rush any decision on whether he will ride Flying Artie or his stable mate Extreme Choice in the Blue Diamond in two weeks time.
Flying Artie scored officially by a short neck and clocked 1:03.04 in running slightly faster time than Samara Dancer did in winning the fillies division of the Blue Diamond Prelude half an hour earlier.
"He's a big strong horse and the 1200 of the Blue Diamond will suit," said Mick Price.
"He's a red hot chance in the race."
Flying Artie is the second winner for stakes-winning Rubiton mare Flying Ruby,
whose dam is a half-sister to Australian Horse of the Year Better Loosen Up.Flying Ruby produced a Pierro filly last year and was then covered by Australian Horse of the Year Dissident.
Her current yearling, a colt by Helmet will be offered by Goodwood Farm as Lot 309at the 2016 Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale.
Flying Artie is the 29th stakes-winner worldwide for Emirates Park Victoria shuttler Artie Schiller, who is by Medaglia D'Oro's sire El Prado.
Artie Schiller covered just 42 mares last year at a fee of $13,200 and has four entries for the 2016 Inglis Premier Yearling Sale.
