Flying Spur's success proliferates

Champion sire Flying Spur is enjoying yet another outstanding season in his own right with three Australian stakeswinners – Bliss Street, Gliding & Satin Shoes – and earnings only a few thousand dollars shy of $1 million.

But he makes an impact wherever he appears in a pedigree, as Oaks Day racing at Flemington yesterday once again highlighted.

Pictured: Proliferate & jockey Michael Walker charge for black type success at Flemington yesterday. (PHOTO: Martin King, Sportpix)

Talented 3YO colt Proliferate became Flying Spur’s 23rd stakeswinner as a damsire when he extended his unbeaten record in the $150,000 VRC Batman H. 1800m LR. The runner-up Vincente (from 8-time winner Minelli) made it a quinella for daughters of Flying Spur.

Proliferate is from Grand Prospect, a sister to G3 winner Joy Of Flight, and already the dam of Grand Journey, one of four Group 1 winners left by Flying Spur mares. In-bred 4 x 4 to Mr. Prospector, Proliferate is the 4th stakeswinner from 38 foals bred on the More Than Ready/Flying Spur cross – a group headed by Golden Slipper G1 winner Sebring.

Earlier in the day, 3YO filly Emmalene became the second stakeswinner for Flying Spur’s son Jet Spur by claiming the $150,000 VRC Red Roses S. 1200m LR, with third-placed Anise from the Flying Spur mare Pimpinella, a three-quarter sister to Hong Kong champion Fairy King Prawn. Anise is already a stakeswinner, having collected the ATC Kindergarten S. G3 at two.

A quartet of stakes performers out of Flying Spur’s highly prized daughters was completed by 5YO mare Miss Octopussy, third in the $100,000 VRC Begonia Belle S. 1100m LR. The G1-placed winner of five races in Melbourne, Miss Octopussy is a sister to stakeswinner Minnesota Shark, both by Lonhro from Group 2 winner Ponton Flyer.

Versatility is a feature of Flying Spur’s record as a broodmare sire, with his daughters leaving stakeswinners to stallions from several sire-lines. The best matches include Charge Forward who has left Group 1 winner Headway and Group 1-placed stakeswinner Fort Lincoln among his first 19 named foals from mares by his barn-mate.

Flying Spur is the leading son of Danehill on the current Australian Broodmare sires’ list where he holds 5th position with 55 winners and almost $1.7 million prizemoney.