A full brother to dual Group I winner Artorius, Flying Artie colt Sixties is on track to have a crack at a Group I of his own later this month after scoring a stylish win in the Group III VRC CS Hayes Stakes (1400m) at Flemington on Saturday.
Flying Artie always looked to have a strong three year-old crop to run for him this season and leading the charge is talented colt Sixties, who is his highest priced yearling ever sold and comes from a family very much on the up.
Sixties was a standout for his sire when offered in the Vinery Stud draft at Inglis Easter and he was duly snapped up by Aramco Racing for $350,000.
Sent to champion trainer Chris Waller, Sixties made swift progress last spring claiming a win in the Group III ATC Ming Dynasty Quality over his glamour stablemate Autumn Boy and made it two wins in his first two runs back this year when saluting on Saturday.
Ridden by Damian Lane, he settled kindly back in the field and powered home down the straight, hitting the front with a furlong to run before surging clear to win by more than a length over Asakura.
Stable representative Darren Beadman was full of praise for the ride of Damian Lane,
"He's good. Not a lot of jockeys can sit three deep and I know the horse probably had a little bit on them, but he just rides so smooth and he gives his horse every chance,” said Beadman.
“He gets them in a nice rhythm, breathing well and they don't seem to be using excess energy throughout the race. It's a difficult task to sit three-wide here from 1400 (metres). You pretty much start on the circle and you're turning the whole time.
“He had the audacity to show a nice turn of foot, pin his ears back. He's an exciting galloper."
Beadman confirmed the Group I VRC Australian Guineas in two weeks time was next for Sixties, who has the overall record of four wins from eight starts with prizemoney topping $473,000.
“More than likely. I think that is Chris's short-term plan for him,” he added.
“Today was a bit of a test for him, this way of going on the circle. The Australian Guineas looks the ideal race for him."
Bred by Greg Perry and foaled and raised at Vinery, Sixties is the second stakes-winner among six winners from top producer Grace’s Lass, an unraced half-sister by Redoute’s Choice to Group I winner Delectation.
The current two year-old from Gracie’s Lass is another exciting stakes prospect in Home Affairs filly Jacaranda, who was bought by Tom Magnier from the Vinery draft at Inglis Easter last year for $300,000.
She won brilliantly on debut last month for the Lindsay Park team and was then a close in the $2million Inglis Millennium.
Vinery sold a Pinatubo (IRE) colt from Gracie’s Lass at Magic Millions last month for just $120,000 to Anthony Freedman Racing/Julian Blaxland Bloodstock and she has a colt to follow by Pierata, then went to Toronado (IRE).
It’s a progressive family that has the potential for quite a bit to be happening this year, while Artorius has moved on with the next phase of his career at Newgate Farm and has yearlings selling in 2026.
Top seller for Artorius so far has been a colt from There You Go that made $220,000 at Magic Millions when bought by Anthony Freedman Racing/Julian Blaxland Bloodstock (FBAA)/Kids Foundation.
Flying Artie started off at Newgate and these days calls Blue Gum Farm in Victoria his home and breeders rallied to the value sire last spring.
Basking in the glory of siring Europe’s best sprinter in 2025 in Asfoora, Flying Artie was a popular pick with broodmare owners covering 96 mares at a fee of $11,000.
