Flying Time earned a start in the LR Hannans Hcp (1400m) with a courageous all-the-way win at Belmont on Saturday.

The born-again sprinter has an outstanding 6: 4-2-0 strike-rate since trainer Lindsey Smith brought him back from an autumn spell.  “I was too hard on him in previous preps,” Smith said.  “Now I hardly work him at all between races.”

Flying Time is a homebred for Yarradale Stud owner Ron Sayers and is by his under-rated Flying Spur sire Heritage.  The gelding is raced in partnership with Charles Fear and Travis Smithson and Saturday’s victory in the Ultimate Sports Day Hcp (1300m) sent his earnings past $175,000.

“The Hannans is a race Ronnie would love to win and I want to be standing there with him when it happens,” Smith said.  “This horse only needs a good barrier and an ounce of luck in Kal.”

The $140,000 LR Hannan’s Handicap (1400m) will be run on Wednesday week, September 17.

Heritage is part of a Yarradale Stud roster that’s second to none in Western Australia.  War Chant (USA) has his first Sunspeed two year-olds ready to debut this season, City Place (USA) is currently covering his first WA book while Frost Giant and Gingerbread Man have their first locally-bred foals on the ground at the Gidgegannup nursery.

At the other end of the spectrum, Yarradale retiree Citidancer (Ire) sired his latest maiden winner when the Stan Bates trained gelding Dance Along won at Pinjarra last Thursday, September 4.

Citidancer, 29, is one of the oldest living stallions to ever sire a maiden winner in Western Australia and his mares are still in vogue both here in Australia and internationally.

Citrium (Citidancer – Triumvirate by Pompeii Court) has just been named Victorian Broodmare of the Year after her colt Polanski won the G1 Victorian Derby.

And in the USA, Miss Puzzle (Citidancer – Miss Tree by Oregon) is the dam of G1 Santa Anita Las Virgenes Stakes winner Fashion Plate.  The mare was exported from New Zealand in 2002.

FLYING TIME