Last season's G3 Blue Diamond Colts & Geldings Prelude winner Flying Artie (Aus) (Artie Schiller) returned to the races off a seven-month layoff on Wednesday to win Caulfield's G3 Blue Sapphire S. Sitting second in the opening stages of the 1200-metre event behind 80-1 shot Dalradian (Aus) (Reward For Effort {Aus}), Flying Artie moved off the fence and to that rival's outside coming off the turn. Dalradian proved a stubborn foe for the favourite, who raced greenly through the lane, but Flying Artie ultimately pulled clear to win by 1 1/4 lengths.
Flying Artie had last been seen finishing third in the G1 Golden Slipper Mar. 19, and trainer Mick Price indicated he would advance to the G1 Coolmore Stud S. Oct. 29.
The downside of the win for jockey Damien Oliver is that he was hit with a 20-meeting suspension for interfering with a rival when moving Flying Artie off the rail on the turn. The suspension would rule the rider out of some major spring carnival dates, including Cox Plate day and Victoria Derby day, and it is expected he will fight the ban.
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