Independent Stallion shuttler Artie Schiller went within a nose of notching a Group winning double in North America on Saturday.

Brilliant filly Anne’s Beauty was a convincing winner of the G3 Colleen Stakes at Woodbine but his classic colt Mr. Commons was beaten in a head-bobbing finish to the G2 Del Mar Mile.

Anne’s Beauty (3f Artie Schiller – Lucky Streak by Sea Wall) improved her career card to 8: 4-1-2 with earnings of $353,560.  The Paul Attard trained filly has been a trail-blazer for her sire.  She opening his winning account at Woodbine in August 2010 and his stakes winning account in the LR Glorious Song Stakes at the same venue three months later.

Anne’s Beauty was a $30,000 buy at the 2009 Keeneland September yearling sale.  Her dam is a winning half-sister to the stakes winners First Tea and Asher.

Mr. Commons (3c Artie Schiller – Joustabout by Apalachee) was racing against older horses for the first time in the Del Mar Mile.  He established a slight advantage in the straight and, despite going under, was game in defeat.

He had earned a G1 placing in the Santa Anita Derby earlier this year and returned to the west coast to win the LR Oceanside Stakes last month.

Mr Commons is a half-brother to North American stakes winners Jungle Fighter (Wild Rush).  Their dam Joustabout was a G1 winner of the Natalma Stakes at Woodbine.

Artie Schiller (El Prado) has returned from Paul’s Mill Stud in Kentucky to Independent Stallions this year after a southern season break in 2010.  He will cover a full book at a $13,200 service fee.

Artie Schiller sired 7 individual juvenile winners in Australia last season.  His first NZ winner arrived last Wednesday when Newyork Bakerboy scored on debut at Ruakaka.  The Kiwi colt is part-owned by Sir Patrick Hogan.

Newyork Bakerboy made $30,000 as a weanling and was resold as a yearling for $130,000 at Karaka.  His dam Princess Xaar is due to foal to US Ranger next month.  She will be bred back to Artie Schiller this spring.

“Artie Schiller’s book is looking good with some very nice mares,” Independent Stallions studmaster Becker reported.  “He is limited to 110 mares and I think we are getting quite close with mares from every State.”