Progressive 4yo FLYING BANDIT posted another dominant victory at Randwick on Melbourne Cup Day.
The Kerry Parker-trained gelding started an odds-on favourite in the meeting’s opening event – an 1800m BM72 Midway Handicap – having comfortably disposed of BM68 rivals at Hawkesbury last month.
Regular pilot Jay Ford was able to extricate FLYING BANDIT away from the rails at the 600m mark, and despite conceding some ground in the process, the pair quickly put paid to the field once balanced up in the home straight.
The official winning margin was 3.08 lengths, in a time of 1:50.88. FLYING BANDIT’s final 600m was covered in 34.99 seconds – faster than any runner in the day’s main event – the Big Dance over 1600m.
Punters are off to a good start at Randwick with the hot fav Flying Bandit taking the opener!@kjparkerracing | @aus_turf_club pic.twitter.com/aGbRopqUbe
— SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) November 5, 2024
“Every time he steps out you are seeing a better version of him,” Ford said.
“Once he was in clear running on straightening, I was always confident, because I knew every 100m I went, the next 100m would be better. He went away from them over the last 150m.
“From where he started this preparation to where we are now, he’s made giant strides.”
Having won or run second in four of his five starts this campaign, Parker will now send FLYING BANDIT out for a well-deserved break.
The son of TRAPEZE ARTIST doesn’t have a classic staying pedigree; however all indications are he will continue to improve beyond 2000m.
With an overall record that now reads four wins and two seconds from just eight starts, FLYING BANDIT is one of the more promising horses for Proven Thoroughbreds heading into next year.
A bargain $20,000 purchase from Widden Stud’s draft at the Adelaide Magic Millions Sale, FLYING BANDIT is our 51st winner for the year and 10th winner for the 2024-25 season.
Proven Thoroughbreds has shares available in another son of TRAPEZE ARTST. The 2yo colt out of LE CIEL is currently in work with trainer Matt Hoysted. Watch the latest video update HERE.
