Flying Artie on top of 2016 Blue Sapphire Stakes field

Golden Slipper placegetter Flying Artie is on top of the thirteen horse field for the Group 3 $350,000 Catanach’s Jewellers Blue Sapphire Stakes (1200m) at Caulfield on Wednesday.

Flying Artie, above, heads up the field for the Blue Sapphire Stakes at Caulfield. Photo by Ultimate Racing Photos.

The Mick Price trained Flying Artie has drawn barrier four with Damien Oliver riding again after partnering the Artie Schiller colt into third place behind Capitalist in the Group 1 $3.5m Longines Golden Slipper (1200m) at Rosehill in March during the Sydney Autumn Carnival.

At his previous run Flying Artie ran second to stablemate Extreme Choice in the Group 1 $1.5m Ladbrokes Blue Diamond Stakes (1200m) at Caulfield.

Price will also saddle up Heptagon who has drawn the rails with Craig Newitt in the saddle.

Heptagon is the winner of his only race start when he broke his maiden status against the two year olds over 1100m at Ballarat on March 9.

Melbourne’s leading trainer Darren Weir will also have two starters in the Blue Sapphire Stakes, Dalradian and Ken’s Dream.

Brad Rawiller will ride Dalradian from barrier ten and the Reward For Effort colt will wear the blinkers of the first time after finishing sixth last start to Benz in a $100,000 three year old Plate at Moonee Valley on September 30.

Dean Yendall will continue his association with Ken’s Dream (barrier 5) who tasted defeat for the first time from three starts when second behind Benz at Moonee Valley.

At his previous start the Dream Ahead colt scored a one length win in the Listed $120,000 Essendon Nissan McKenzie Stakes (1200m) at Moonee Valley on August 20.

The in-form Lindsay Park Team will be looking for another feature race win over the Caulfield Cup Carnival in the Blue Sapphire Stakes with either Highland Beat or Derryn after cleaning up at Caulfield last Saturday with four winners.

Co-trainer David and Ben Hayes and Tom Dabernig saddled up He’s Our Rokkii to win the Group 1 $500,000 Toorak Handicap (1600m), Wait For No One to win the Listed $120,000 Debutant Stakes (1000m), Hear The Chant to win the Group 3 $150,000 Thoroughbred Club Stakes (1200m) and Sheidel to win the Group 3 $150,000 Cape Grim Beef Steaks (1200m) .

Derryn has barrier two with apprentice Regan Bayliss to ride while Highland Beat has the outside gate with Damian Lane in the saddle.

The unbeaten Mike Moroney trained Barthelona is stepping up to Group 3 company after making it a hat trick of wins when he took out an 1100m three year old Plate at Caulfield on September 17 and will jump from barrier nine with Ryan Maloney retaining the ride.

See below for the full 2016 Blue Sapphire Stakes market update, fixed win pricing provided by Ladbrokes.com.au – home of Odds Boost (T&Cs apply).