With the first few races run on Saturday at Rosehill favouring those who led or sat handy, connections of Sixties (Flying Artie), the full brother to multiple Group 1 winner Artorius, surely went into the Group 3 ATC Ming Dynasty (1400m) with a level of confidence.
Initially an emergency for the race, the Chris Waller trained colt eventually made the field, but it was stablemate Autumn Boy (The Autumn Sun) who was all the rage, starting the race favourite after an unbeaten 2yo campaign which netted connections a Listed victory in Queensland.
Coming off a fifth placed effort in the Group 3 Up And Coming Stakes behind Grand Prairie (Written Tycoon) who was also lining up here, if you put a line through that run and took note of the seven length romp the start prior, then the improving colt surely had a chance.
Straight to the lead under Rachel King who was riding the colt for the first time, Sixties sat about a length ahead of Crown The King (Time For Reign), while the race favourite was in fifth position getting a good run.
Passing the 400m mark, King upped the ante on Sixties as the colt went up a gear, and while Autumn Bot made up many lengths in the run to the line, it was to no avail as Sixties took the prize.
Autumn Boy clearly has potential, and while he was beaten as the favourite, he should be given another chance next time out while the third placed Without Peer (Pierata), although beaten more than three lengths by the winner has also shown promise and could be followed out of the race.
With both the winner and the runner up likely to head towards the Group 1 Golden Rose (1400m) in two weeks, it would be a brave person to suggest the pair would look out of place.
“He was very tough. He has beaten a very good horse too, so full credit to the horse's performance and the ride Rachel (King) gave him,” said Duckworth.
“She (Rachel) was able to dictate and do things her own way and to be fair, he gave a dominant kick at the top of the straight.
“I think he has to (go to the Golden Rose). It is a massive stallion-making race and he will put himself right in the market now"
With Autumn Boy being first up, and carrying three and a half kilos more than the winner, it's clear the son of The Autumn Sun will be the one to show the most improvement moving forward.
“There was a bit of vulnerability with him with the top weight and the rail being out but he has flashed home in amazing fashion," said Duckworth.
“His old man actually got beaten first-up as a three-year-old and then remained unbeaten so if he can echo that everyone will be happy.”
Purchased by Aramco Racing Pty Ltd for $350,000 from the Inglis Easter yearling sale draft of Vinery Stud, the Greg Perry-bred colt is the fourth winner from five to the races out of the Redoute's Choice mare Gracie's Lass, herself a half-brother to Waller’s former Group 1 winner Delectation (Shamardal).
Not only a is Sixties a full brother to multiple Group 1 winner Artorius, with the first crop of the Newgate Farm-based stallion set to head to the yearling sales in 2026, Sixties is from the family of Group 1 Manikato Stakes and Group 1 Australian Guineas winner Southport Tycoon (Written Tycoon) who is covering his first book of mares this season at a fee of $38,500 (inc. GST) at Widden Stud’s Victorian farm.
Gracie’s Lass has a 2yo filly by Home Affairs which sold to Coolmore's Tom Magnier at this year's Inglis Easter yearling sale, followed by a yearling colt by Pinatubo (IRE), and is currently due to foal this season to Yulong's Pierata.
Sixties becomes the 11th stakes winner for Flying Artie looks outstanding value at a fee of $11,000 (inc. GST) this season at Blue Gum Farm.
