Fierce Flight Flies

Relatively new to jumps' racing, Fierce Flight (7 g Flying Artie – First Bloom, by Dylan Thomas) won the $20,000 Maiden Hurdle (3100m) on 19 September at Te Aroha.

A former Listed Hawkes Bay Cup winner over 2200m, he finished runner-up in the Group 3 Manawatu Cup (2300m), Group 3 Wellington Cup (3200m), Listed St Leger (2600m), and fourth in the Auckland Cup (Gr. 2, 3200m). 

Fierce Flight had his first hurdle start in July, finishing second at Te Rapa, followed with another second at Te Aroha and on Friday, he bounced back to win the Maiden Hurdle (3100m) on 23 August at Hawera, after a last start glitch. 

Continuing his association with jumps' jockey Jay Kozaczek (a1), Fierce Flight improved to second with a lap to run, contested a three-way lead at the 800m, and safely cleared three hurdles in the straight to win by two and a quarter-lengths. 

“Things didn’t go to plan at Hawera, but we stuck with Jay (Kozaczek) because he’s done all the work on him and he deserved it,” said assistant trainer Reece Trumper, on course. 

On Heavy10 footing, Fierce Flight covered the 3100 metres in 3:44.1 and as race favourite paid $2.50 & $1.40 on the NZ TAB tote.

“He put it altogether nicely today and it was terrific to see him rewarded over the hurdles,” said Mark Walker, training partner with Sam Bergerson.

“He’s a horse that has never been entirely comfortable on testing heavy ground, while being able to quicken on better footing, but he’s got the Maiden jumps win out of the way.

“I think he’s got a really good future as a jumper and may even make his way to Warrnambool (Victoria) for next year’s carnival in May. 

“He’d already had two seconds, so to come away with a win in his first season hurdling is a really good result, and I think he’ll be that much better in the role next year.”

Walker has always had a soft spot of jumpers, evidenced by training some of the best in the past two seasons in Victoria, from the Te Akau stable at Cranbourne. He made history in August this year when becoming the first trainer to ever trifecta the prestigious Grand National Steeplechase (4500m), won by Leaderboard (Street Cry), followed by stable-mates The Mighty Spar (Savabeel) and Prismatic (Savabeel). 

Purchased by David Ellis CNZM for $45,000 at the 2020 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) and he has now won seven times for nearly $300,000 in prize money.

By Group One winning sprinter Flying Artie (Artie Schiller), Fierce Flight has stamina on the dam side, with First Bloom winning five times to 2040 metres, and she also produced Asva (Capitalist), winner of five races to 2100 metres, and four-time winner to 1500 metres, Exoboom (Exosphere).

Grand-dam Celtic Bloom (Celtic Swing) won seven races to 2233 metres and left five winners of 21 races to 2200 metres. 

The race was called by visiting commentator Rick McIntosh, a legendary jumps' caller in Victoria, with his performance best summed up by Trackside presenter Brendan Popplewell, saying: “That is the best Maiden Hurdle call I’ve ever heard.”

Fierce Flight was strapped by Rhiannon Smith.

Photo credit - Kenton Wright - www.raceimages.co.nz