Trial watchers were all over the Chris Waller trained Flying Artie colt Skyglider at Canterbury on Wednesday and he duly made a winning debut leading home a trifecta for his trainer and a quinella for his Blue Gum Farm based sire.
Skyglider showed plenty of pace and application in a recent barrier trial win on July 15 and took those attributes to raceday with Kerrin McEvoy in the saddle.
He mustered quickly from the gates to cross and lead before giving a good kick to win the 1200m maiden by three-quarters of a length over Sixties, who is a full brother to dual Group I winner Artorius.
Extreme Choice colt Estremo also did a good job to grab third at his first start with all three colts showing potential of better things to come.
“They are all going to make nice three year-olds, so there is a lot to look forward to,” said Chris Waller .
“Obviously, we'd like him (Skyglider) to settle in the run and he did settle well today, but when the opportunity arises we’d take a sit with him, but it's important that they win and have good experiences.
“From his draw and with his gate speed, it looked logical that he'd be there on the pace and Kerrin did a great job rating him and he showed a good turn of foot.”
A $100,000 Magic Millions Book 2 purchase for Ezybonds No 1 Syndicate from Baramul Stud, Skyglider is the first foal of a winning half-sister to stakes-winner Affable, the dam of stakes-winner Agreeable from the family of Group I winner Turffontein.
It is very much what you would term a running / winning family and Skyglider has quickly added to the tally.
Ex Lady had a filly last year by Ole Kirk and is in foal to Vinery Stud’s young gun Hawaii Five Oh.
The runner-up Sixties was a $350,000 Inglis Easter purchase for Aramco Racing from the Vinery Stud draft and is the highest priced yearling by Flying Artie ever sold. No surprise given he is a full brother to dual Group I winner Artorius, whose first yearlings will be offered at sales next year, from the family of Group I winners Southport Tycoon and Delectation.
With eight 2YO winners this season, Flying Artie has a very strong crop of rising three year-olds that will keep him well and truly on the radar and is priced affordably this spring at Blue Gum Farm a fee of $11,000.
