Trainer Mick Price has enlisted the services of Brazilian ace Joao Moreira for his charge Flying Artie (Aus) (Artie Schiller) in the G1 Newmarket H. at Flemington Mar. 11. The 3-year-old has been ridden most often by Damien Oliver, but with Oliver unlikely to be able to make the weight for the Newmarket, Price has moved to ensure he has a top replacement for the job.
“With all due respect to Ollie–we spoke to Ollie about it–we've got to do our homework early and get prepared for these things and Ollie couldn't ride under 53.5kg,” Price explained to Racing.com. “We're thinking Flying Artie's weight should be roughly 52.5kg so we got in early and got permission from the Hong Kong Jockey Club to get Joao out here and I'm looking forward to it.”
Flying Artie's finest hour to date came over the Newmarket's course and distance when he won the G1 Coolmore Stud S. last October. He reappeared this year in the G1 Black Caviar Lightning over 1000m at Flemington Feb. 18 where he could finish only seventh behind Terravista (Aus) (Captain Rio {GB}) albeit only beaten a little over two lengths.
“The horse didn't have a hard run in the Lightning and we get three weeks between runs so he's certainly nice and bright and fresh,” Price added.
Owned by a syndicate that includes China Horse Club and Newgate Farm, Flying Artie is expected to erase the memory of his last outing when he lines up in the Newmarket.
“It was a very messy day in the Lightning for us, but I'm sure he'll turn up on the day and he loves the straight and he should run really well,” Price concluded.
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