Cover image courtesy of Magic Millions
In-form mare In Flight (Flying Artie) extended her winning streak to three on Saturday when snapping up her first Group victory in the G3 Sir John Monash Stakes at Caulfield. A $220,000 Magic Millions Adelaide Yearling Sale for Proven Thoroughbreds and trainer Joe Pride, the 4-year-old took her prizemoney to over $800,000 with her eighth career victory.
In Flight is the fifth multiple winner from five to the track for Listed B Thoughtful Stakes winner Waveline (USA) (Stravinsky {USA}), whose second best foal is Listed Canberra Guineas placegetter Waimea Bay (All Too Hard). Waveline is one of three stakes performers for the Boston Harbour (USA) mare Teresa Ann (USA), a juvenile winner from a largely European black-type family that includes multiple Group-winning Royal Ascot performer Crystal Castle (USA) (Gilded Time {USA}).
In Flight winning the G3 Sir John Monash Stakes | Image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
An attractive filly
Proven Thoroughbreds’ Jamie Walter wasn’t put off by the presence of Flying Artie in the top half of the filly’s pedigree when he spotted her at Adelaide in 2022.
“She was a really nice shaped filly,” he recalled. “She had a good girth, she moved well, there was plenty to like about her as a type. I didn't mind Flying Artie as a sire, I know he's not particularly commercial, but I thought she was pretty attractive.
“The mare had done a reasonable job, she'd thrown a stakes-placed mare at that point, and the older full sister Gilmore was with Peter Snowden.”
In Flight as a yearling | Image courtesy of Magic Millions
Following In Flight, Waveline only delivered one more foal in 2023 before dying a month later; the son of Rebel Dane made the journey south to Adelaide earlier this year where he was purchased by Luke Koumi and Kennewell Racing for $14,000. In Flight has been her most expensive offspring to date, followed by Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale graduate and three-time Gilmore (Flying Artie), who sold for $200,000 the year before.
“She came from a very good farm that we’d had a lot of luck with, and Kerrie Tibbey, the proprietor, was very keen to stay in the filly, and that was a further positive for me.”
“Kerrie Tibbey, the proprietor, was very keen to stay in the filly (In Flight), and that was a further positive for me.” - Jamie Walter
Goodwood Farm was also the birthplace and consignor of Flying Artie, who was conceived when the Listed-winning Rubiton mare Flying Ruby was sent to G1 Breeders’ Cup Mile winner Artie Schiller (USA) when he stood at Emirates Park’s Diggers Rest property.
In Flight is already one of 10 stakeswinners for Flying Artie, who is now based at Blue Gum Farm for $11,000 (inc GST), and her victory on Saturday makes her his fourth Group winner. Fellow Flying Artie 4-year-old My Wish, who has earned over HK$20 million ($3.9 million) in prizemoney, received the Most Improved Horse title at Hong Kong’s awards evening on Friday.
Flying Artie | Standing at Blue Gum Farm
Proven Thoroughbreds picked up another Flying Artie last year at the Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale, paying $130,000 for Sense Of Duty, out of Ordos Honor (Fastnet Rock). Stationed at Eagle Farm with Matthew Hoystead, he has trialled twice.
“He’s showing promise,” Walter said. “I wouldn’t hesitate to buy (a Flying Artie again) if I liked them as a type and liked the pedigree.”
“I wouldn’t hesitate to buy (a Flying Artie again) if I liked them as a type.” - Jamie Walter
The Goodwood connection
Goodwood Farm has proven to be a lucrative source of winners for Proven Thoroughbreds and Pride, further exemplified with a double for all three on Saturday when 3-year-old King’s Secret (Shalaa {Ire}) took out a Benchmark 72 at Randwick to make his record four wins from eight starts.
The gelding, who cost $100,000 at 2023’s Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale, is a half-brother to Pride and Proven Thoroughbreds’ much loved 12-time winner Private Eye (Al Maher), who finished third in the G1 Stradbroke Handicap last month.
When In Flight walked through the ring, Private Eye had claimed his first Group 1 in the G1 Epsom Handicap and was barrelling through the year towards a second in the then $15 million Everest behind Giga Kick (Scissor Kick).
King's Secret winning the Benchmark 72 at Randwick | Image courtesy of Georgia Young Photography
Private Eye and King's Secret's dam Confidential Queen (Shamardal {USA}) is a long-time resident of Goodwood Farm, and is also granddaughter of Snippets’ Lass (Snippets), the dam of Snitzel and Hinchinbrook. Confidential Queen was unplaced on the track, but her offspring have turned out much better; all runners to date are winners, with Pride training Private Eye’s half-brother Royal Witness (Star Witness) to five of his six career wins. Confidential Queen delivered a filly by Anamoe last year and returned to the nine-time Group 1 winner afterwards.
Pride and Proven Thoroughbreds have signed the docket for six horses from Goodwood Farm so far - including Private Eye, who was offered at Adelaide by Amarina Farm on behalf of Goodwood) with all named horses currently winners. Proven Thoroughbreds’ first purchase from Goodwood in 2017 was $70,000 Smart Missile filly Bang On Target, who won and placed at her only two starts before retiring to be a broodmare.
Private Eye | Image courtesy of Goodwood Farm
At $62,500, Private Eye had been the combination’s cheapest Goodwood purchase until last year, where they paid $50,000 at the Inglis Classic Yearling Sale for a Brave Smash (Jpn) colt out of three-time winner Rock Of Diamonds (Fastnet Rock), and this year they returned to Adelaide to secure a St Mark’s Basilica colt out of eight-time winner Willo Titto (Pierro) for $130,000.
“She’s (Tibbey) a hands-on breeder,” Walter said. “She’s not a big breeder, and I take what she says very seriously, because her assessment and knowledge of her stock is pretty accurate. Kerrie’s a very good judge. The fact that she was keen to take a significant share in the horse made me very keen to bid. I think she (In Flight) was one of the most expensive Flying Arties sold (that year).”
“I take what she (Kerrie Tibbey) says very seriously, because her assessment and knowledge of her stock is pretty accurate.” - Jamie Walter
In Flight was also one of the highest priced yearlings of the Magic Millions Adelaide Yearling Sale in 2022, tying for fourth top lot. She was the third highest priced progeny of Flying Artie sold that year; top lot Meat Pie Artie was a $280,000 Inglis Easter graduate and has achieved a maiden win in 14 starts.
Sales types
Adelaide is also a “happy hunting ground” in general for Proven Thoroughbreds.
“I’ve had a lot of luck there over the years, I’ve purchased Private Eye there,” Walter said. “Multiple city-winning mare Invinciano, Fortuneer won her first three starts in Brisbane. Flying Bandit won a Wagga Cup, he was only $20,000 at Adelaide. Like everyone in this industry, I gravitate to where I’ve had luck, and rear away from where I’ve had none.”
“Like everyone in this industry, I gravitate to where I’ve had luck, and rear away from where I’ve had none.” - Jamie Walter
Adelaide is a sale where a ‘less commercial’ sire like Flying Artie can flourish.
“He probably doesn’t throw what you would call ‘sales types’,” Walter said. “That’s probably the primary reason they don’t seem to sell well, because they’re not bad racehorses.”
Flying Artie has set himself a new season record for winners, in a year where he has struck at 45 per cent winners to runners in Australasia. His crop tends to improve by age, with over half of his 4-year-olds being winners - as opposed to possessing a lot of precocious talent, which can make you “decidedly uncommercial”. That, and the appearance of his offspring have made many buyers overlook his offspring.
Jamie Walter | Image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
“I think it just shows you that we can become a little obsessed with type,” Walter said. “I reckon in the last 10 to 15 years in Australia, I have seen a trend that has flattened the price because of type. I don’t think we pay enough respect to the pedigree of a horse. If you’ve got a horse with a not very sexy pedigree and it’s not a precocious type or very attractive, they don’t draw a lot of money at the sales.”
“I don’t think we pay enough respect to the pedigree of a horse.” - Jamie Walter
Bring on the spring
Walter is pleased that In Flight could elevate herself in one preparation from city winner to multiple stakes winner, particularly after “losing her way” in the summer when affected by hard tracks.
“She rarely ran a poor race, but wasn't winning as frequently,” he said. “And now she has won three stakes races in a row in three different states. It’s a great testimony to her ability to travel, her toughness, constitution wise, and the fact she's probably getting better than she was 12 months ago.”
The G2 The Shorts beckons in the spring, but Walter is more excited about what could be coming in the autumn when In Flight’s preferred soft tracks return.
“It’s a great testimony to her (In Flight) ability to travel, her toughness, constitution wise, and the fact she's probably getting better than she was 12 months ago.” - Jamie Walter
“The ultimate goal would be the Galaxy,” he said. “That’s a Group 1 handicap that’s invariably run on a wet track. They’ll probably penalise her four or five marks for Saturday’s win, which will take her rating to 106. It will at least reassure her of getting a run in those races.”
King’s Secret has impressed in a lengthy preparation, so has been sent out to the paddock for a well earned six weeks’ break. Walter didn’t want to get too excited with the gelding’s progression through the rankings, but looks forward to him re-entering metropolitan company later in the spring.
“We don't want to make too many lofty plans for a horse like him, but he looks very promising at this point.”
