Cover image courtesy of Ashlea Brennan
Newgate first-season stallion Flying Artie has secured his fifth winner, with the John Thompson-trained Bourbon Flyer prevailing in authoritative fashion in the same colours his sire carried in his racing days in the Stud and Stable Staff Awards Plate (1100 metres) at Randwick (Kensington) on Wednesday.
Ridden by Hugh Bowman, the debutant was fancied in what proved a strong field and, after settling off the fence and on the speed, he kicked well in the middle of the straight to fend off the John O'Shea-trained Syracuse (Sebring) by 1.5l with Godolphin filly Trifaccia (I Am Invincible) in third. Fast-finishing Otelo (Shalaa {Ire}) was the eyecatcher in fourth.
It was a nostalgic result for connections.
Bourbon Flyer is part-owned by Wilf Mula’s Aston Bloodstock, which raced both the sire, Flyie Artie and the dam, stakes winner Kentucky Miss (Foxwedge). Kentucky Miss was owned in partnership by Mula and Luskin Park during her four-time winning career and, in May last year, Mula bought her outright in an unreserved dispersal of Luskin Park stock. Bourbon Flyer is her first foal.
Thompson said Bourbon Flyer had always shown promise.
“He’s been a professional colt since day one,” Thompson said after the race. “He’s straightforward, his trials were great, and he’s just one of those colts with a good attitude. We’ll have a throw at the stumps in one of those nice 2-year-old lead-ups now, and see how we go.”
Bourbon Flyer became first-crop winner number five for Flying Artie, putting him in front in the most winners of any freshman sire category, clear of barnmate Capitalist and Kitchwin Hills' Sooboog, who have four apiece.
“He’s a promising stallion,” Thompson said. “His winners seem to be all very similar to him, very straightforward, good, correct and sound horses. This colt is well bred by the great man, Wilf Mula, the Whelan family and Newgate, of course.”
Bourbon Flyer as a yearling
Bourbon Flyer was consigned to the 2020 Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale by Newgate Farm, where he sold for $50,000 to John Thompson. His full sister was a $52,500 purchase by John O’Shea at the 2020 Inglis Australian Weanling Sale and, with O’Shea training Syracuse to second behind Bourbon Flyer on Wednesday, the Randwick trainer will be pleased with the result on both counts.
Kentucky Miss, who was also bred by Mula and the Whelan family, won the Listed Cap D'Antibes H. Having delivered another Flying Artie filly last year she visited I Am Invincible.
She is a daughter of the American Listed winner Twelve Pack Shelly (USA) (Deputy Storm {USA}).
