Blue Gum Farm’s Flying Artie is never without a good horse and progressive sprinter In Flight claimed her biggest win to date when taking out the $300,000 Group II ATC Sapphire Stakes at Randwick on Saturday.
Trained by Joe Pride and ridden by Craig Williams, In Flight was dropping back a touch in grade coming out of an eighth placing in the Group I ATC Galaxy last month.
She settled behind the pace and worked through a gap between runners to hit the front with 50m to run and was strong to the line to win by three-quarters of a length.
In Flight had previously excelled on wet tracks and her trainer Joe Pride was glad to see her produce her best on a good 4.
“The big doubt over her so far in her career has been her ability to handle dry tracks. She’s had eight starts on good ground for four placings so that was the doubt today,” he said.
“It’s a huge result, she’s a lovely little mare who keeps getting better with age and I think there’s more wins in store.
“This is her time of year, this is when she really thrived last time. Last year she won three stakes races in three different states all in a row.
“Brisbane might be the target next. We’ll look at the Victory Stakes maybe something like that, the Doomben 10,000. We’ll see how she pulls up.”
A $220,000 Magic Millions Adelaide purchase from Godowood Farm for Proven Thoroughbreds/Pride Racing, In Flight has the overall record of nine wins and five placings from 23 starts with prizemoney just shy of $850,000.
Bred by Goodwood Farm, In Flight is a half-sister to stakes-placed Waimea Bay and is the best of five winners from five foals to race from stakes-winning Stravinsky mare Waveline, who died in 2023.
The sire of the 2025 Champion European Sprinter Asfoora and current season stakes-winning 3YO’s Sixties and Skyglider, Flying Artie is one of the best value sires in Victoria.
Footnote: In Flight is entered in the Inglis Chairman's Sale as Lot 70.
