Emirates Park Victoria sire Artie Schiller (USA) has two colts heading to the G1 Golden Slipper Stakes following black-type strikes in Sydney and Melbourne on Saturday.

His Gooree Park homebred Good Standing is exempt from a ballot for the Golden Slipper after winning the G2 Skyline Stakes (1200m) at Randwick.  And Flying Artie will join him at Rosehill on March 19 after finishing second to stablemate Extreme Choice in the G1 Blue Diamond Stakes (1200m) at Caulfield.

Extreme Choice ($3.60) has taken over as TAB pre-post favourite for the Golden Slipper from Written Tycoon colt Capitalist ($4.60) who had been market-leader since winning the Magic Millions Classic.

Artie Schiller fills out a strong hand for Victorian sires in the Golden Slipper with Flying Artie next at $8 while Good Standing is on the fifth line at $15.

Good Standing became the 30th stakes-winner for Artie Schiller when he ran down Lionhearted (Fastnet Rock) by three-quarters of a length in the Skyline.  He’s from Sydney winner Elahi (Giant’s Causeway) and second dam Tempest Morn (Thunder Gulch) also carried Gooree Park’s black and red striped silks winning the G1 STC Australia Stakes and G1 South Australian Oaks.

“He’s got plenty of natural ability and won with a good bit in hand,” trainer James Cummings said.  “He will appreciate the experience because I don’t think his mind was on the job at all.

“If he pulls up well and the owners are happy, we will go straight into the Golden Slipper.”

Caulfield trainer Mick Price praised both his colts after they filled out the quinella in the Blue Diamond.  “It will feel even better if we can win the Golden Slipper with either of them,” he said amid celebrations on home turf.  “Extreme Choice made his own luck but Flying Artie got speared off at the top of the straight and had no luck.”

Flying Artie was bred in Victoria by John Shannon and had won the G2 Blue Diamond (C&G) Prelude earlier this month.  He’s the second winner from Rubiton mare Flying Ruby (LR Bow Mistress Stakes).

Jockey Damien Oliver believes Flying Artie has more scope for improvement.  “He’s high-class and a better barrier would have made a big difference in the Blue Diamond.  The horse was still a bit fresh and I haven’t lost any faith in him.”

Artie Schiller has moved past $1.70 million in earnings this season and his talented mare I Love It won the G3 Vamos Stakes in Launceston on February 21.  Trainer John Salanitri will either run I Love It in the G3 Frances Tressady Stakes (1400m) at Flemington this Saturday or give her a break in readiness for the G1 Robert Sangster Stakes in Adelaide.

ARTIE SCHILLER