Flying Spur (4 November 1992–8 May 2018) was an Australian Thoroughbred racehorse that won three Group One races, most notably the 1995 Golden Slipper. He was also the Leading sire in Australia for the 2006/07 season.
| Flying Spur | |
|---|---|
 Racing silks of Arrowfield Stud | |
| Sire | Danehill |
| Grandsire | Danzig |
| Dam | Rolls |
| Damsire | Mr Prospector |
| Sex | Stallion |
| Foaled | 4 November 1992 |
| Died | 8 May 2018 (aged 25) |
| Country | Australia |
| Colour | Bay |
| Breeder | Arrowfield Stud |
| Owner | Arrowfield Stud |
| Trainer | Lee Freedman |
| Jockey | Damien Oliver Mick Dittman Glen Boss Steven King |
| Record | 20: 6–6–2 |
| Earnings | AU$2,085,843[1] |
| Major wins | |
| Blue Diamond Prelude (1995) Golden Slipper (1995) Peter Pan Stakes (1995) Australian Guineas (1996) All Aged Stakes (1996) | |
| Awards | |
| Leading sire in Australia (2006/07) | |
Background
editFlying Spur was from the second crop of champion sire Danehill. He was born and bred at Arrowfield Stud in the Hunter Valley of New South Wales.
He was sent to the 1994 Inglis Easter Yearling Sale where he was bought for $160,000 by trainer Lee Freedman for a group of owners. The majority ownership of the horse was retained by Arrowfield Stud.
Racing career
editFlying Spur won at his debut on the 26 November 1994 at Caulfield. Two starts later he won his first stakes races the Blue Diamond Prelude when ridden by Mick Dittman. The following week he ran second in the Blue Diamond Stakes as a 13/4 favourite and backed up again a week later when third in the Sires' Produce Stakes (VRC).
After a three week break Flying Spur next contested the 1995 Golden Slipper where he started as a 25/1 outsider. Jim Cassidy was originally booked to ride the horse in the race but became disqualified from riding and Glen Boss was made his replacement. In a close finish Flying Spur defeated future Hall of Fame horse Octagonal in second place, with Millrich (future dam of Redzel) in third. Years later, Boss would say, "Flying Spur was the horse that really put me on the map. I owe a lot in my career to him."[2]
Flying Spur would win his next Group One race in the 1996 Australian Guineas at Flemington when ridden by Damien Oliver and his third and final major being the 1996 All Aged Stakes at Randwick when ridden by Steven King.
Stud career
editFlying Spur was retired from racing after 20 starts to commence stallion duties at Arrowfield Stud. He performed this role between 1996 until 2012 when he was retired from service due to declining fertility. As well as being crowned Leading sire in Australia for the 2006/07 season, his progeny amassed over $135 million in prizemoney. He sired over 1,000 individual winners, including 99 stakes winners and 14 Group One winners.[3]
After being retired from stallion duties, Flying Spur remained at Arrowfield Stud and lived out his days there until dying in 2018 aged 25. He was laid to rest and buried at the stud.[4]
Notable progeny
editFlying Spur's 14 Group One winners:
c = colt, f = filly, g = gelding
| Foaled | Name | Sex | Major wins |
| 1997 | All Time High | f | The Thousand Guineas |
| 1998 | Juanmo | f | Sires' Produce Stakes (BRC), TJ Smith Stakes (BRC) |
| 1998 | San Luis | c | Manawatu Sires Produce Stakes |
| 2000 | Roedean | f | Blue Diamond Stakes |
| 2002 | Magnus | c | The Galaxy |
| 2003 | Alverta | f | Coolmore Classic |
| 2003 | Casino Prince | c | Chipping Norton Stakes |
| 2003 | Inspiration | g | Hong Kong Sprint, Centenary Sprint Cup |
| 2003 | Mentality | g | Champagne Stakes, Randwick Guineas, George Main Stakes |
| 2004 | Dealer Principle | g | Rosehill Guineas |
| 2004 | Forensics | f | Golden Slipper, Queen of the Turf Stakes, Myer Classic |
| 2004 | Sleek Chassis | f | Blue Diamond Stakes |
| 2009 | Sacred Star | g | Telegraph Handicap, NRM Sprint |
| 2011 | Boom Time | c | Caulfield Cup |
Pedigree
edit| Sire Danehill (USA) 1986 |
Danzig (USA) 1977 |
Northern Dancer | Nearctic |
|---|---|---|---|
| Natalma | |||
| Pas de Nom | Admiral's Voyage | ||
| Petitioner | |||
| Razyana (USA) 1981 |
His Majesty | Ribot | |
| Flower Bowl | |||
| Spring Adieu | Buckpasser | ||
| Natalma | |||
| Dam Rolls (USA) 1984 |
Mr Prospector (USA) 1970 |
Raise a Native | Native Dancer |
| Raise You | |||
| Gold Digger | Nashua | ||
| Sequence | |||
| Grand Luxe (CAN) 1974 |
Sir Ivor | Sir Gaylord | |
| Atilla | |||
| Fanfreluche | Northern Dancer | ||
| Ciboulettel |
References
edit- ^ "Street Boss Horse Search". racingandsports.com. Retrieved 23 September 2021.
- ^ "Boss fondly remembers Flying Spur". racing.com. Retrieved 24 September 2021.
- ^ "Farewell Flying Spur and thank you for everything". Arrowfield Stud. 9 May 2018. Retrieved 24 September 2021.
- ^ "Flying Spur heads to horse heaven". breednet.com.au. Retrieved 24 September 2021.
- ^ "Flying Spur Horse Profile". pedigreequery.com. Retrieved 24 September 2021.