The performance wasn't perfect but Flying Artie achieved two desired results in Wednesday's Group III Blue Sapphire Stakes (1200m) at Caulfield.
Flying Artie won the $350,000 contest despite racing greenly but trainer Mick Price said the fact the colt would benefit from the outing ahead of the Coolmore Stud Stakes (1200m) at Flemington was equally important.
Flying Artie shifted out and bumped Ken's Dream approaching the home turn before giving jockey Damien Oliver plenty to do to get the $2 favourite home 1-¼ lengths ahead of the $81 chance Dalradian.
"He did a lot wrong. I don't know, he got to 100m out and thought that was it and clocked off," Price said. "He took a bit of riding.
"Gee I'm glad I ran him. I think he just raced pretty green there and raced like a horse that needs racing.
"Obviously there's only 18 days to the Coolmore, the race we need to win with him, but today will help."
Price said he would initially have to adopt a conservative approach with Flying Artie before getting the three-year-old ready for his meeting with his Blue Diamond and Moir Stakes-winning stablemate Extreme Choice in the Coolmore Stud Stakes.
"The first thing I'll be doing is allowing him as much time as he needs to bounce back and get over it. I'm just a bit concerned how green he was but I suppose each race is different," Price said.
"The run will do him good fitness-wise so I haven't got a lot of opportunity to do too much different with him. But it was great that he won today."
Flying Artie is by Artie Schiller out of the stakes
winning Flying Ruby (by Rubiton).
He was a $50,000 purchase for Paul Whelan of Luskin Park Stud at the 2015
Inglis Easter Yearling Sale form the Goodwood Farm draft.
Artie Schiller is standing the current season at Emirates Park Stud at a fee of
$22,000.
