Artie Schiller's Reykjavic Storms Home in Winter Championship

Mark Smith - Saturday July 6

After Malibu Style captured the Listed Victorian Sprint Final, the Lindsay Smith-trained Reykjavik completed a profitable day for the West Australians when he stormed home under Linda Meech to claim the Listed VRC Winter Championship Final (1600m) at Flemington.

Cluttered up midfield as the field swung for home, Reykjavik did not flinch when Meech asked him scrape through a narrow seem and the four-year-old son of Artie Schiller (USA) made the race his own over the final 200 metres to win by two and three-quarter lengths from Romancer (Redwood) with Holbien (Pierro) a half-length back in third. (image Grant Courtney )

Advertisement


Stable representative Maddie Raymond said things are progressing well since Smith shifted his stable to Victoria.

It was nice to get one in town on Saturday, we've got some nice horses and nice support," Raymond said.

"He's been good in every run he's had and Lindsay was confident stepping up to the mile that he would really see it out, so we were very impressed with him."

The 4yo homebred son of Artie Schiller (USA) advances his overall record to 6 wins, 7 seconds and 6 thirds from 30 starts with earnings of $463,635.

He is one of two winners from three to race out of the Rock Of Gibraltar mare Gibraltar Storm who is a half-sister to the multiple stakes-placed Storm Burst (Danehill Dancer).

Gibraltar Storm has a 2yo Written Tycoon filly named Tycoon Storm who was purchased by Rapid Equine Breeding out of the Riversdale draft at the 2018 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale.

Not covered in 2016, Gibraltar Storm foaled a full-brother to Reykjavik last spring and was covered by Artie Schiller (USA) again but missed.

Reykjavik is one of 47 stakes-winners for Artie Schiller (USA) who stands at the historic Stockwell Stud in Victoria at a fee of $13,200.

Advertisment
More Reading...
Artie Schiller's Best to Come
He’s been around the breeding scene for more than a decade but Brodie Becker reckons the best of Artie Schiller is still ahead of him.
Second Stakes Success For More Than Ready’s Oughton
The well-travelled Oughton (More Than Ready) added Saturday’s $200,000 Listed Eye Liner Stakes (1350m) to his previous success in the Listed Tattersall's Recognition Stakes, off the back of a tendon injury which put an end to his stint in Hong Kong.
Drylie Has a Handle on Artie
When the highly successful stallion Artie Schiller (USA) returned to Stockwell Thoroughbreds in Diggers Rest last year, there was an unassuming, hardworking and talented horsewoman on the farm that no one expected to be his future handler.
Promising Flemington Winner for El Roca
Progressive three-year-old Stop The Rock continued his climb through the grades when the Patrick and Michelle Payne-trained gelding ran out a solid winner of the Ken Cox Handicap (2000m) at Flemington on Saturday.
Headley Grange Gives Exosphere 11th Stakes Winner
A model of consistency with 17 top four placed finishes from 18 starts, Joe Pride’s 4yo Exosphere gelding Headley Grange stepped up to black type race for the first time with instant success, winning the $200,000 Listed ATC Civic Stakes (1400m) at Randwick.
Second Time Lucky As Flash Ahh Wins Ipswich Cup
Having finished third in the Listed Ipswich Cup (2150m) back in 2021, rising 10yo Lucas Cranach (GER) gelding Flash Aah was back for another attempt on Saturday, winning the staying feature as part of the Troy Pascoe yard.
45th Stakes-Winner for Artie Schiller
Back in Victoria at Stockwell Thoroughbreds this spring, Artie Schiller (USA) added a new stakes-winner to his tally on Wednesday when Reykjavik took out the $120,000 Listed Hannans Handicap at Kalgoorlie.
Four in a Row for Kiwi Bred 3YO Taken
Three-year-old gelding Taken is proving quite the money spinner for connections, with a victory in Saturday’s Rod Johnson Handicap (1620m) at Flemington the fourth in succession for the Mick Price and Michael Kent Jnr-trained galloper.
Peltzer 2YO Impressive at Flemington
Twin Hills Stud’s young sire Peltzer has only had a handful of runners from his first crop so far, but he appears to have a winner that might be well above average in progressive gelding Buccleuch.
Cork Wins Tauranga Classic
After hard-luck stories in the Listed Team Wealleans Tauranga Classic (1400m) in both of the last two winters, Cork made amends in style on Saturday with a $22 upset in the fillies and mares’ feature.