New Stakes-Winner for Blue Gum Farm’s Flying Artie

Tara Madgwick - Saturday April 15

Transferred to Blue Gum Farm this year, Group I producing sire Flying Artie might be better known for his sprinters such as Royal Ascot bound Artorius, but it was an Aussie bred staying type in Fierce Flight that delivered his latest stakes success.

Less than a neck separated the first three home in Saturday’s Listed Power Farming Hawke’s Bay Cup (2200m), with race favourite Fierce Flight getting in the deciding stride to take out the feature event on the day at Hastings.

Fierce Flight gets in the deciding stride to win the Listed Power Farming Hawke’s Bay Cup (2200m) Photo: Race Images – Peter Rubery

The Mark Walker-trained four-year-old brought impeccable form to the contest, having won two of his last five stars and came into the race off the back of a runner-up finish behind Ess Vee Are in the Listed New Zealand St Leger (2600m).

Rider Michael McNab settled the son of Flying Artie in a comfortable position in midfield before tracking the well fancied Pinion into the race at the 600m.

Colorado Star hit the front at the 250m, with Pinion and Fierce Flight chasing hard, before McNab lifted his mount in the final few strides to down Pinion by a nose with a head back to Colorado Star in third.

Te Akau Racing manager Reece Trumper was quick to praise the development of Fierce Flight who won his first race back in February last year and has now collected his first black-type victory at just his 16th start.

“He’s come a long way this season and full credit to all the staff at home as they have really worked hard in the last few weeks where we have had a bit of a shortage of staff,” Trumper said.

“Getting a result like this is just great for everyone.

“I don’t think he is the furnished product yet, which I think you can see and he means a lot to me as he is one of my favourite horses.

“This also means a lot as my father was brought up in the Hawke’s Bay, my grandparents pre-trained him for a few months, so this horse has a huge following in our family.”

Advertisement

McNab admitted he had been a little concerned in the run home when the horse tried to duck sideways.

“I just said to Reece that I had watched all his replays, so I carried the stick in my left-hand and he was flying going straight and as soon as I switched it over he has seen that and has tried to duck in and lost stride,” McNab said.

“I pulled it back through, got him going again and he has got up on the line.

“He has come from a rating 60 to a Hawke’s Bay Cup winner and been really good through those runs.”

Fierce Flight is the fifth SW for Flying Artie.

Purchased by Te Akau Racing boss David Ellis for $45,000 from the Kilgravin Lodge draft during the 2020 New Zealand Bloodstock Ready To Run Sale at Karaka, Fierce Flight is a half-brother to stakes-winner Exoboom from stakes placed Dylan Thomas mare, First Bloom.

He was sourced in Australia as a weanling, bought for $30,000 from the Newgate draft at the Magic Millions National Weanling Sale.

The fifth stakes-winner for Flying Artie, Fierce Flight has now won five of his 16 starts for owners, the Te Akau Out Of Bounds Racing Partnership and over $128,000 in prizemoney.

Flying Artie will stand at a fee of $16,500 this spring.

Advertisment
More Reading...
Dominant Maiden Victory for Godolphin’s Burma Star
Having his second start for the Chris Waller stable, Godolphin’s 3yo Exceed And Excel colt Burma Star had race fitness on his side as he ploughed through the wet to win the Keeneland September Yearling Sale Handicap (1100m) at Warwick Farm on Wednesday.
A to Z Victorian Stud Tour – Breednet Goes on the Road
The Victorian breeding industry is on the cusp of something seriously good with arguably the best broodmare band in the country located at Yulong and an exciting new cohort of first season sires poised to ignite – is it any wonder I headed south for my annual stallion parade trip this year.
Yulong Head Entries for 2026 G1 Blue Diamond Stakes
The Melbourne Racing Club is pleased to confirm 1,456 nominations have been received for the 2026 edition of the $2 million Group 1 Sportsbet Blue Diamond Stakes (1200m), Victoria’s richest premier race for two-year-olds to be run on Saturday 21 February.  
Feature Race Entries Running Today
The spring carnival is rapidly approaching and midweek metro meetings provide a fertile ground for new talent to emerge so let’s take a look at the runners at Warwick Farm and Sandown today that hold feature race entries.
G1 York International Delivers Nail Biting Spectacle
Last year the Group I Juddmonte International (1m2 ½ f) at York produced a virtuoso performance from City of Troy (USA), who will be paraded at Coolmore Australia this Sunday and the overnight renewal of the race produced a Pride of Jenni like spectacle before the favourite Ombudsman prevailed to win.
Sires With Winners - Tuesday August 19
Here is the full list of 32 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Sejardan Strategy in Place
In a highly competitive marketplace for young well credentialled stallions it can be hard to stand out from the crowd, so a well thought out plan to maximise potential ROI and raise awareness is one broodmare owners will find intriguing.
Sires With Winners - Wednesday August 20
Here is the full list of 35 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Debut Winner for Hanseatic
Rosemont Stud’s Hanseatic is on the board with his first winner of the new season after Humble Trader did a great job to win on debut at Sandown on Wednesday.
Farnan Half-Sister Bolts in at Warwick Farm
When a half-sister by Zoustar to Golden Slipper winner Farnan sells for just $250,000 at Inglis Easter you would be entitled to wonder what was wrong with her, but it turns out lack of size does not mean lack of ability.