Wow! Flightline is a Monster

Mark Smith - Sunday September 4

Over the next few days, you will likely hear plenty about the Tapit 4-year-old Flightline.

In a performance almost universally recognised as 'Secretariat-like,' the John Sadler-trained entire demolished his opponents by upwards of nineteen and a quarter lengths in the Grade 1 $1 million TVG Pacific Classic Stakes at Del Mar.

Gr1 wins don't come much easier (image Alex Evers eversphoto.com)

The Dubai World Cup and Hollywood Gold Cup winner Country Grammar was closest to him at the finish.

So, Flightline's form reads; won a maiden at Santa Anita by 13 ½-lengths in April last year, followed by a similar margin in an allowance at Del Mar in September.

Advertisement

He rounded out his 3yo season with an 11 ½-length score in the Grade 1 Malibu Stakes at Santa Anita on Boxing Day.

 The son of Tapit made his 4yo bow with a 6-length pipe opener in the Grade 1 Metropolitan at Belmont Park, defeating Grade 1 winner Happy Saver.

His fifth consecutive win was a tour-de-force.

Flav

ien Prat has been on Flightline in all five wins. He seemed keen to take a sit, but Flightline was having none of it. He pulled himself to the front, and his cruising speed was phenomenal. He had the chasing pack off the bit before the home turn. Still, under a stranglehold, he continued to increase the margin.

"This horse is so brilliant you have to space his races a little bit apart because he is his own category," Sadler told BloodHorse. "I know him well, and I know what's best for him is to build up his energy between one race to the next.

"We'd all want to see him run more times, but when he runs like this, you don't need to run him more times.

"Enjoy the ones that you run in."

Bred by Summer Wind Equine, Flightline is a $ 1 million Saratoga Select Yearling. He is the best of two winners from three to race of the GrIII Indian Charlie mare Feathered, runner-up in the Gr1 American Oaks and Gr1 Starlet Stakes and third in the Frizette Stakes.

Flightline's half-brother Voron broke his maiden in May last year – in Russia.

Beluga Express - a Russian Revolution colt from the family of Flightline was purchased by Lindsay Park

Glenlogan Park bought into this solid Phipps family through the talented Kasuga (CAN). A 9-time winner and GrIII runner-up, the daughter of Temple City had a Russian Revolution colt sell to Lindsay Park for $180,000 at the Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale in January. He has been named Beluga Express.

Advertisment
More Reading...
Tattersall’s Mile For The Inflictor - Under The Louvre’s Second SW
Third at Listed level before winning at Doomben, the Craig Cousins-trained The Inflictor (Under The Louvre) then tackled the Group 1 Stradbroke Handicap, and while not in the same league as winner War Wachine (Harry Angel), the 4yo gelding showed his class on Saturday to win the Listed BRC Tattersall’s Mile (1600m) at Eagle Farm.
Sires With Winners - Saturday June 28
Here is the full list of 109 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Miss Joelene Achieves Millionaire Status
This time last year, Miss Joelene was highlighting herself as one to watch for the future, having placed in the Group 2 The Roses and the Group 1 Queensland Oaks, and after a few runs behind the outstanding Antino (Redwood) this time in, a class drop on Saturday saw her record victory in the $200,000 Listed BRC Tattersall’s Gold Crown (2100m) at Eagle Farm.
Another Aussie SW Sourced from Aga Khan Studs
When Australian investors buy tried horses out of Europe from Aga Khan Studs they know they are getting quality, but the good ones don’t come cheap with Elamaz (IRE) sourced from their draft at the Arqana Arc Sale last year for €480,000.
Super Seth 3YO Salutes for Baker
A tenacious front-running performance in Saturday’s A$160,000 Captivant @ Kia Ora Handicap (1400m) at Rosehill added a first city victory to Puntin’s burgeoning record.
Almanzor Stayer wins G3 Tattersalls Cup
It's been a long time since the  2022 Victoria Derby and some may have wondered whether the winner Manzoice was ever going to win again!
Corumbene Stud Homebred Tashi Wins G1 Tatts Tiara
From the last crop of foals sired by Widden Stud’s much missed Golden Slipper winning sire Sebring, five year-old mare Tashi may also be his final Group I winner as she produced a career best performance at Eagle Farm on Saturday to win the $700,000 Group I Tatts Tiara (1400m).
Better Than Ready’s Metalart Wins Group 3 W J Healy Stakes
Improving off a third in the Listed Lightning Handicap at Eagle Farm recently, 4yo Better Than Ready gelding Metalart stepped up to 1200m to record his first black type success, winning the Group 3 W J Healy Stakes.
Aussie 2YO SW for Tivaci
New Zealand-bred colt Matahga stamped himself as an exciting spring three-year-old prospect with a hard-fought victory in the A$120,000 Listed David Peacock Oaklands Plate (1400m) at Morphettville on Saturday.
Private Eye’s Half-Brother King’s Secret Wins Again
Although he may never reach the heights of his older half-brother Private Eye, a Group 1 winner and earner of more than $12m to date, connections of King’s Secret (Shalaa) are sure to have plenty of their own fun with the 3yo gelding winning at Rosehill on Saturday.