Flying Spur reached another milestone when Australian bred gelding Flying Tristram won the G3 Cup Trial at Clairwood on Saturday. The South African based galloper became the 75th stakes winner for Flying Spur.
Flying Tristram (4g Flying Spur – My Southern Bell by Octagonal) sat second stalking Red Rake before the leader quickened to a four length lead turning for home. Jockey Anton Marcus sent Flying Tristram forward and he managed to conjure something extra out of Aussie bred to record a narrow win.
The Flying Spur gelding had shown definite promise before a good fourth behind Pierre Jourdan in the Gauteng Guineas. He was coming off a poor effort in the South African Derby although local media outlets reported he had never got going in the heavy conditions that prevailed on Derby Day.
Trainer Charles Laird dropped him back to 1800m for the Cup Trial and the more suitable trip and surface brought out the best in the gelding. It wouldn’t surprise to see Laird and his major client Marcus Jooste celebrating much bigger wins in future.
The South African connection purchased Flying Tristram for $280,000 from the Brooklyn Lodge draft at the 2008 Gold Coast Magic Millions. His dam My Southern Bell is owned by Gerry Harvey’s Best Western Group and she won twice up to 2200m in Sydney. She is a half-sister to the dam of Perth stakes winner Wolfe Dreams (Sequalo) and the immediate family also includes Golden Slipper winner Dance Hero (Danzero).
Arrowfield arranged for Flying Spur to serve his first book at Chatswood Stud at Seymour in 1996. He was back in the Hunter Valley soon enough and has since covered approximately 2000 mares in 14 seasons at stud in Australia.
Flying Spur’s fee showed an upward curve year after year from $15,000 in 1996 to a career-high $137,500 in 2008. He originally shuttled to Ireland but, after three years, he returned home for good in August 1999.
In Europe, his best have been Irish iron-horse Osterhase. He won 12 times in 55 starts including a G3 at the Curragh. His flyer Firebolt was a G3 winner at Newcastle and then grew a leg in Hong Kong where he won the G1 Centenary Sprint Cup on debut at Sha Tin.
His Australian bred mares Forensics and Alverta are due to debut in England. Golden Slipper winner Forensics is part of Darley’s off-shore push with its Australian contingent that includes Marching and El Cambio.
Alverta was a G1 winner of the STC Coolmore Classic and the Arrowfield homebred will be in action at Royal Ascot for the Golden Jubilee Stakes on June 19. The Paul Messara trained mare will be ridden by Tye Angland who partnered her to victory in the Coolmore at Rosehill in March.
The Flying Spur branch of the Danehill sireline boasts a new-wave of young sire sons like Casino Prince (Patinack), Magnus (Eliza Park), Primus (Chatswood), Heritage (Yarradale), Shaft (Darley), Jet Spur (Glenlogan Pk), Volitant (Oxford Park ) and Krupt (Lincoln).
Flying Spur has sired 670 winners world-wide at a 66% strike rate. He stands at Arrowfield for a $55,000 service fee.