Watch: 'He's a rare, gifted horse' - is Flightline the sport's next big thing?

He's not run in anything that yet gets him on to the Racing Post database, but for Flat fans interested in promising young horses wherever they are on the planet, if Flightline isn't yet on your radar, put him there.

So wildly impressive was the three-year-old son of Tapit on his second start in an allowance optional claimer at Del Mar on Sunday that some observers were hailing it the performance of the entire meeting. A meeting that has had several Grade 1s, the latest also on Sunday, when a daughter of Curlin, Grace Adler, won the Debutante Stakes by 11 and a quarter lengths.

She was undeniably an eyecatcher – and is worth putting in your tracker as she certainly is on the Post's database – but in terms of future excitement she was arguably trumped by Flightline, who has even more 'could be anything' about him.

A seven-figure yearling purchase and a romping debut winner in April in a maiden special weight at Santa Anita, by 13 and a quarter lengths, Sunday was his much anticipated return to action. He didn't disappoint, sauntering away from five rivals in the six-furlong contest, coming home 12 and three-quarter lengths clear.

With Flavien Prat in the saddle, Flightline pressed the pace in second through a :22.01 opening quarter, took over in the final turn to post a half in :44.17, then continued to open up down the stretch. The final time on the fast track was 1:08.05, threatening a 48-year-old track record with the colt not coming off the bridle.

John Sadler trains Flightline for Hronis Racing, Summer Wind Equine, West Point Thoroughbreds, Siena Farm and Woodford Racing. West Point, with LEB as agent, went to $1 million in 2019 for the colt consigned by Lane's End to The Saratoga Sale, Fasig-Tipton's selected yearling sale in New York.

Summer Wind bred Flightline in Kentucky out of the Grade 3-winning, multiple Grade 1-placed Indian Charlie mare Feathered, whose three foals of racing age are all winners. Feathered has also produced a yearling full-brother to Flightline named Failsafe and this year foaled a Curlin colt named Eagles Flight. She was bred to Into Mischef for 2022.

"He's a rare, gifted horse," said Sadler, quoted by the San Diego Union-Tribune, explaining his four-and-a-half month absence by saying: "He had a slight bone bruise in a hoof and we don't rush those things."

Sadler said Flightline could have set the track record had he been pressed.

"But that's not what we're trying to do," said the trainer, who didn't commit Flightline to any particular race in the future, although he could be a Breeders' Cup Sprint contender back at Del Mar in November.

"There's also a Grade I at Santa Anita the day after Christmas," said Sadler, referring to the Malibu Stakes. "And we're thinking about two turns next year. We're looking."

A bit like with Europe's rising three-year-old Baaeed, who took the step up to top-flight company in his stride in the Prix du Moulin the same day, it is not yet possible to be categoric about the talent Flightline possesses.

One thing that is certain, however, is that many more eyes will be on him next time, with most no doubt hoping to see his immense promise turn into genuine stardom.

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