FLYING BANDIT’s win at Goulburn on Sunday provided further endorsement of the progeny of TRAPEZE ARTIST.
The Kerry Parker trained gelding drifted from $4.40 to $5.50 in betting on the six-horse contest, with punters sending BAILE FERVOR out the $2.70 favourite.
FLYING BANDIT was conceding a hefty start at the top of the straight but the three-year-old mowed them down in a tenacious half-length victory.
$20k yearling FLYING BANDIT (TRAPEZE ARTIST) wins the $50k Goulburn Super Maiden at only his second career start. Well ridden by Jay Ford & well trained by @kjparkerracing ! @widdenstud @mmsnippets @racing_nsw @goulburnraces pic.twitter.com/ALoWnrIABz
— PR🟢VEN Thoroughbreds (@ProvenTbreds) March 24, 2024
“He jumped well, positioned in a good spot early and then they stacked right up. When they quickened coming to the turn I was off the chain and chasing,” winning jockey Jay Ford said.
“I sort of panicked a bit but he was just working himself out. Even at the 100m I was still three (lengths) off them but I knew he was going to get them.
“He doesn’t have that sharp turn of foot but he keeps coming.”
Sectional times supported Ford’s assessment.
“There were three 1300m races on the day and the FLYING BANDIT race produced by far the quickest last 600m,” times analyst Nic Ashman said.
“They clocked 35.9 versus 36.97 and 37.81 for the Class 1 and BM58 respectively.
“It’s entirely possible that with a faster lead speed this horse (FLYING BANDIT) wins by further.”
FLYING BANDIT is the third TRAPEZE ARTIST to don the Proven colours, following SPIN DOCTOR and CARTWHEELS. All three were able to win at their first or second start. SPIN DOCTOR was also placed in the QTIS Jewel last season while CARTWHEELS is being prepared for the Listed Princess Stakes (1600m) at Eagle Farm next month.
FLYING BANDIT was purchased for the bargain price of $20,000 from Widden Stud’s draft at the Adelaide Magic Millions Yearling Sale. Sunday’s maiden victory saw the gelding collect $27,625 for his ownership group.
Proven now has 13 winners from the first three months of 2024 and 33 winners for the season.