Surprise packet Flag Officer extended his unbeaten record at Belmont today when he led throughout for an impressive win in the Westspeed Nursery Handicap (1400m).
Prepared at Ascot by Paul Jordan, Flag Officer is by first season sire success Excites, and is now two wins from as many runs.
He recently debuted at Northam and belied his average trial form when he showed speed and led throughout in an impressive almost three length win on June 16.
It was a virtual carbon copy performance today. With Craig Staples in the saddle again this afternoon the youngster was able to skip along at the head of the field and cruise to the line a length clear of his nearest rival.
“It was a good effort,” a delighted Paul Jordan said. “We really enjoyed it and here’s to more of it.”
The form of Flag Officer over the past two starts has been a little bit of a surprise to connections after the youngster failed to show any precociousness when he was first tested on the training track.
“He didn’t show us much at all. He was one of the hardest two-year-olds in the stable to deal with.”
“He was very wayward so we gave him a few trials. He trialled better the last time and we thought he would run okay up at Northam.”
“(At Northam) he just jumped and ran, as if all the reels had got into the right place and he just won like a demon.”
“And he’s done exactly the same today,” Jordan added.
The promising Flag Officer was purchased by Jordan for just $34,000 from the Mogumber Park draft at last year’s Magic Millions Perth Yearling Sale.
Flag Officer’s sire Excites is the sire of 12 runners in Australia from his first crop – five of them are already winners – two of them multiple winners.
His other star runner to date is the Brisbane prepared filly Amber’s Crown – a member of the Steven O’Dea stable who’s won over $222,000 from a handful of runs.
Flag Officer is a half brother to seven winners – being a son of the 100% winner producer Fleet Marguerite.
Twice successful in the United States, Fleet Marguerite is also the dam of New Zealand group winner Blimey O’Reilly (now a winner in Hong Kong where he is known as Upside of Anger) and the stakes placed Macau star Strategy.
Flag Officer’s other half relations include the Hong Kong victor American Victory, Macau winner Imperial Flag, South African winner Nepeta andBrisbane winner Fast Fleet.
Winner: Flag Officer
Breeding: Excites-Fleet Marguerite (Gulch)
Race: WATC Westspeed Nursery Handicap (1400m)
Sold for: $34,000
Sale: 2010 Magic Millions Perth Yearling Sale
Vendor: Mogumber Park
Buyer: Paul Jordan
Owner(s): Lima Syndicate (Mgr: HR Crossman), P Van Loenhout, CW Chalwell, L Bell, Mogumber Park Syndicate (Mgr: CW Brown), P Davies, IF Johnson, GR Butler, No Limit Racing & Mr AR Whitecross
Earnings: $23,650
Trainer: Paul Jordan (Ascot)
