Fierce Flight Fights Hard to Win

Fierce Flight (3 g Flying Artie - First Bloom, by Dylan Thomas) chalked up his maiden win in the $12,000 Maiden 1600 metres on 20 February at Hastings, despite a dead-heat.

After doing well for fourth when debuting in a Maiden 1400 metres on 6 January at Rotorua, Fierce Flight had no chance from his outside draw (13) when back and wide in a Maiden 1600 metres on 2 February at Te Rapa, and on Sunday he received opportunity to improve.

Content to settle last from again the outside gate (7), Fierce Flight stood the leader Weowna Tiger (Tiger Prawn) six lengths at the 600m, continued tracking up behind and then switched to the inner over the concluding stages as he dashed home to level at the line.

The ride by Sam Weatherley displayed patience and skill, and he was unlucky not to win outright given his finishing speed.

Sponsored by K9 Petfoods, Fierce Flight ran 1600 metres in 1:38.1 on Dead5 footing, with the dead-heat halving win dividend to pay $3.40 both win and place.

“He's a lot better horse than what transpired at Te Rapa, being caught five wide at the back of a full field (16) and Opie (Bosson) never knocked him around,” said trainer Jamie Richards, who leads the premiership by 27 and 87 total wins this season.

“He's a staying horse that continues improving and he is starting to carry better condition, more middle, as he matures.

“He's still learning, but it was good to get a win and he shapes as a nice enough horse for later this season as a three-year-old and into next season at four.

“We'll pick out a Rating 65 mile or step over a bit more ground and assess his progress as he goes. Dave (Ellis) bought him at the Ready to Run Sale, he is by a sire that's doing a good job in Flying Artie, and he's developing into a nice type of horse.”

Standing at Newgate Farm, Aberdeen, NSW, Flying Artie (Artie Schiller), sits within the top 10 on the Australian Second Season Sires list (as does Te Akau 2000 Guineas [Gr. 1, 1600m] winner Xtravagant (Pentire)), and he has already produced Group 1 winner Artorius (ex. Gracie's Lass, by Redoute's Choice).

Purchased by David Ellis CNZM for $45,000 at 2020 at the New Zealand Bloodstock Ready to Run Sale, from the draft of Kilgravin Lodge, Fierce Flight is owned by the Te Akau Out of Bounds Racing Partnership (Mgr: Karyn-Fenton Ellis MNZM).

“Flying Artie was predicted to make an impact in the breeding industry, and he had a rap on him from some good judges in Australia, and we were impressed with his first crop progeny,” Ellis said.

“Fierce Flight was a tall, athletic horse that was always going to appreciate time being a later foal and we thought he had the makings of a nice three-year-old miler type before going on to get further.

“He was a straightforward horse that did everything right in his breeze up, paraded well at the sales' complex, and is one that we feel has plenty of improvement to come.

“He's out a mare by a proven dam sire, Dylan Thomas (Danehill), and I'm pleased for the owners that he's got his first win on the board.

“It was a patient ride by Sam (Weatherley), who is having a good season, and with Fierce Flight winning at just his third start, I'd expect the horse to gain plenty of confidence from it.”

Fierce Flight was strapped by Roushan Khan.

Photo credit - www.raceimages.co.nz