What more can be said about the combination of trainer Joe Pride, Jamie Walter’s Proven Thoroughbreds and Kerrie Tibbey’s Goodwood Farm as talented sprinting mare In Flight (Flying Artie) won the $200,000 Group 3 MRC Sir John Monash Stakes (1100m) at Caulfield.
Recording her third consecutive black type victory in her third state in as many starts, In Flight gave the Pride, Walter and Tibbey a second winner on the day after the earlier success of King’s Secret at Randwick.
Also responsible for $12m earner and Group 1 Epsom Handicap winner Private Eye (Al Maher), who is a half-brother to King’s Secret, Tibbey’s Goodwood Farm website could not say it any better…‘Nestled in the picturesque landscapes of Murrurundi, Goodwood Farm stands as a testament to the dedication, commitment, and a relentless pursuit of excellence in the world of horse breeding and racing.’
With wins in the Listed BRC Bright Shadow Stakes at Doomben before scoring a late dive victory in the Listed ATC Bob Charley AO Stakes, In Flight was given a trial on July 1 to keep her ticking along nicely before she headed to Melbourne.
Starting the favourite, jockey Craig Williams allowed the mare to settle back in the field with just two behind her as last year’s Monash Stakes winner Recommendation (Shalaa) took the lead and made every post a winner.
Still in the lead as he passed the 100m mark, Recommendation produced a gutsy effort, but was no match for In Flight who charged down the outside to score with plenty in hand, ears pricked, crossing the line a length clear of Enver Jusufovic’s New York Lustre (Manhattan Rain), with Ciaron Maher’s race leader holding on well for third.
Now that the mare has stepped up once again in class, Pride has some potential Group 1 Autumn targets in the back of his mind for his classy mare.
“I thought we would be, in the run, a lot closer and not probably tracking out so wide,” said Pride post-race.
“That’s probably what made it awkward for her, but as soon as she straightened up and balanced up – (she’s a) pretty good mare, this mare.”
“I’m sort of thinking in the Autumn, she’s a likely type for an Oakleigh Plate, or a Galaxy,” he said.
“A couple of nice 1100-metre races for her, she doesn’t have to prove herself too much to get there.”
Recording his third winner of the meeting, and surprisingly first in the Group 3 race, Williams appeared excited about just how good In Flight could be.
“She's really exciting,” enthused Williams.
“She's still quite raw. She's got really good talent and ability.”
“You can see her profile as a racehorse. But, after being part of Bella Nipotina’s career, being part of Mr. Brightside, when the trainers have the right product and they place them like they do, you can really never put a lid on these horses' ceiling and I think she's a perfect example of that, especially when she gets her conditions.”
Taking her record to eight wins and five placed efforts 18 starts, the Monash Stakes victory took In Flight’s earnings over the $800,000.
The first stakes winner and second stakes performer for the Listed-winning, imported Stravinsky mare Waveline (IRE) who was herself a $10,000 purchase by Tibbey via the Inglis Digital platform when carrying the daughter of Flying Artie.
In Flight was secured for $220,000 by Proven Thoroughbreds and Pride Racing from the Goodwood Farm draft at the Magic Millions Adelaide Yearling Sale - the very same sale they purchased Private Eye from a few years earlier.
Placed in both the Group 1 Blue Diamond and Group 1 Golden Slipper at two before a winner of the Group 1 Coolmore Stud Stakes at three, the Goodwood Farm yearling graduate Flying Artie, who stands at Blue Gum Farm, looks outstanding value at $11,000 (inc. GST).
