Flightline Retired To Lane's End Farm

Mark Smith - Monday November 7

Like a bolt of lightning, Flightline was lighting up the sky one moment and gone the next. A day after the 4yo son of Tapit kept his perfect record intact with an 8-length romp in the Longines Breeders' Cup Classic (G1) at Keeneland, connections announced his retirement to Lane's End Farm.

Flightline (image Alex Evers twitter)

"We would like to thank trainer John Sadler and his team for the incredible work they did with Flightline," Bill Farish of Lane's End told Blood-Horse.

"His historic performances are a credit to their expertise and unwavering efforts to bring out the very best in the horse."

Flightline won all six starts under Flavien Prat highlighted by Grade 1 wins in the Breeders' Cup Classic, Pacific Classic Stakes, Metropolitan Handicap, and Malibu Stakes (G1).

Advertisement

Happy Saver, who was over 18 lengths behind Flightline in the Breeders’ Cup Classic, can boast coming the closest to the son of Tapit, when six lengths adrift in the Metropolitan at Belmont.

"He's got to be up there with the best of all time," Lane’s End Farm’s Bill Farish said.

"To have the pedigree and looks he has on top of it is amazing."

West Point Thoroughbreds purchased Flightline for $1 million from the Lane's End consignment at the 2019 Fasig-Tipton Saratoga Select Yearling Sale.

He is out of the Indian Charlie mare Feathered, who the GrIII Edgewood Stakes at Churchill Downs and finished second in both the American Oaks (G1) and Starlet Stakes (G1) and third in the Frizette Stakes (G1).

She descends from Phipps family’s Matron Stakes and Acorn Stakes winner Finder's Fee (Storm Cat), a daughter of the Grade1-winner Fantastic Find (Mr Prospector) a half-sister to Breeders’ Cup Sprint winner Dancing Spree (Nijinsky).

Advertisment
More Reading...
Bred to Be Better at Three
Andrew Campbell will unveil another exciting youngster at Hawera on Saturday when two-year-old gelding Valvano makes his debut in the Simon Bendall @ Metcalfe Real Estate (1200m).
Sires With Winners - Wednesday July 9
Here is the full list of 42 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
One to Watch – Gosford
Capitalist had a double of debut winning two year-olds at Gosford on Thursday both prepared by Peter Snowden and while the expensive colt Caesar got the job done, it was the filly that really had people talking.
Bred to be Good - So You Think x More Joyous
It sounds like a match made in heaven, a colt by two time Cox Plate winning sire So You Think from eight time Group I winner More Joyous, and this 2YO is slated to make his debut in New Zealand this weekend,  
Breeding To Win – Crystal Ball – New Season 3YOs to Follow
Who are we highlighting this week? - Analysis of the G1 winning 3YO’s for this season has made us realise how many horses on this list took giant strides from two to three, so we are looking into the crystal ball to find some juveniles we believe could end next season as G1 performers if not G1 winners.
Progressive Mare Bred on Magic Cross
The magic Fastnet Rock x Galileo cross that has produced champion mare Via Sistina (IRE) was in the frame overnight in Ireland where six year-old mare Goodie Two Shoes scored a career best win in the Group III Stanerra Stakes (1m6f) at Fairyhouse.
Two powerful additions announced for Equate 2025
The countdown to Equate '25 just got even more exciting. Australasia's number one innovation event for the thoroughbred industry has announced two brand-new sessions that bring together transparency, technology, and tangible takeaways for all attendees.
Sires With Winners - Thursday July 10
Here is the full list of 31 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Melbourne Racing Club Unveils Major Spring Racing Enhancements
Racing Victoria has confirmed prize money allocations for the 2025-2026 season and Melbourne Racing Club (MRC) has announced some exciting race program changes and prizemoney increases that, together with other great initiatives at Flemington and Moonee Valley, reinforce the position of Victoria’s Spring Racing Carnival at the forefront of international racing.
G1 Sprinter Crocetti Returns to Work
Group One-winning sprinter Crocetti has returned to Danny Walker and Arron Tata’s Byerley Park stable with some lofty summer targets in-mind.