Longford trainer Bill Ryan produced another smart two year-old last weekend when Smartie Artie won the Schweppes Maiden Plate (1100m) in Hobart.

Smartie Artie (2g Artie Schiller – Too Many by Perugino) raced on the pace and, despite racing greenly, was too good for his rivals under Kelvin Sanderson.  He let down like a good horse to defeat Tough Kisses (Tough Speed) and Another Concerto (Snippetson) by a length.

Ryan also prepares Hobart winner Crown Consul (Econsul) who followed up with placings in the Tasmanian Sires’ Produce Stakes and Autumn Classic last month.

Ryan’s wife Mary bought Smartie Artie in Melbourne after winning $8,000 in Tattslotto.

“We went up to the Inglis Great Southern Sale to look at an Artie Schiller foal,” Ryan recalled.  “Mary noticed him in the catalogue because his dam is a sister to Colonel Parker.”

Colonel Parker (Singspiel) won 9 races and over $230,000 for the Ryans and they liked the look of the Artie Schiller foal that was part of the Eliza Park consignment.

“He trialled without any problems but then came out and did everything wrong on raceday,” Ryan recalled.  “We put the blinkers on and he learned from those mistakes and did an excellent job second-up.”

Artie Schiller (USA) will shuttle to Mike Becker’s Independent Stallions in Victoria after a year off in 2010.  He averaged books of 90 mares in his first three seasons shuttling from Pauls Mill Stud in Kentucky.

A son of champion sire El Prado (Sadler’s Wells), he was a G1 winner of the G1 Breeders’ Cup Mile and has sired 30 winners from his first crop bred in Kentucky.  Stakes winners Anne’s Beauty and Bear’s Chill head the list that also includes G1 Florida Derby third Mr Commons.

He has sired five Australian winners since Settheworldonfire scored by four lengths on debut at Eagle Farm.  The Barry Baldwin trained filly returns from a six month spell in the LR Lancaster Stakes on the Stradbroke Hcp support card.

“Given his pedigree and performances, Artie Schiller’s efforts are even more commendable when we wouldn’t expect his progeny to fire before they are three year-olds,” Becker explained.  “He will stand for a $13,200 service fee this year.”