Early stud duty an option for young guns
ENJOY our star sprinting three-year-olds while you can because they might not be around for much longer.
The much-spruiked $10 million The Everest sweepstake race at Randwick in October might prove a peak too far for star three-yearolds like Star Turn and Flying Artie, who are the favourites in today’s Black Caviar Lightning Stakes at Flemington, and Flying Artie’s stablemate Extreme Choice.
Co-trainer Wayne Hawkes said Star Turn could be retired if he won the Group 1 Lightning over 1000m today.
“There might be nothing more to do from a stud point of view if he wins,” Hawkes said.
“He can earn a hell of a lot at his first season at stud.’’
Flying Artie and Extreme Choice will be retired to Newgate Farm in NSW once their racing careers end – their stud value is estimated at $12-$15 million each. The question is, when?
Newgate boss Henry Field said The Everest was a “de- cent carrot’’ to keep both colts on the racetrack but said there would be no hesitation to retire both after their autumn campaigns “if it seemed the best decision all around’’.
“We’re keeping all of our balls in the air at the moment,” he said.
“We’re a fairly aggressive outfit and early retirement is a pretty defensive thing to do but we’ll see.”
Flying Artie will run in the Newmarket Handicap at Flemington and the T.J. Smith Stakes at Randwick after the Lightning, with the Royal Ascot carnival in Britain in June a serious option.
Extreme Choice will resume in the Oakleigh Plate at Caulfield next Saturday. The Newmarket Handicap and Royal Ascot are also options.
“Although Flying Artie is probably the more likely of the two to go to Ascot because he is such a good stud horse,’’ Field said.
Their trainer Mick Price said either outcome – stud or race on – sat well with him regarding both colts but said “gee it would be nice to take both to Ascot – Extreme Choice in the King’s Stand (1000m), Flying Artie in the Jubilee (1200m).’’
Price said the unpredictable Flemington straight course was of some concern for Flying Artie today.
“You never know what the straight’s going to do,’’ said Price, who is confident Flying Artie will get his chance.
Flying Artie has drawn barrier four and the inside part of the track tends to be inferior ground.
“So he (Damien Oliver) would want to be creeping right rather than left,’’ he said. “The horse is nice and bright. He’s had a good prep.”