Flaming on Fire

In impressive fashion, Flaming (2 f Bachelor Duke - Flying Firebird, by Stravinsky) gained a richly deserved victory in the NZB Insurance Pearl Series 2YO 1200 metres on Saturday Feb. 1 at Te Rapa.

Ridden patiently by Matt Cameron from the outside barrier in a field of eight, on a genuine pace, Flaming travelled easily passing the 600 metres six lengths from the leader. Across heels to make a wide run on straightening, she sprinted to lead at the 200 metres and raced away to win easing down by three and a half lengths in 1:10.59, last 600m in 36.1, for the 1200 metres.

“It set up nicely with the strong pace and given the wide draw we had little option but to let her find her feet,” said Te Akau trainer Jason Bridgman.

“She's a really nice filly and will probably go onto the Matamata Breeders' Stakes (Gr. 2, 1200m) [Feb. 22 at Matamata] providing she pulls up well, and being a sister to Smoulder (Bachelor Duke) she was pretty good buying for $60,000 last year out of K1 by David Ellis and hopefully she can get some black type herself."

While Bridgman notched another win to top the Trainers' Premiership on 53, jockey Matt Cameron extended his lead in the Jockeys Premiership with 88 wins.

“Not doing anything, she was cruising around the turn and I waited as long as I could before peeling out and she just gave it to them,” said Cameron.

“It was just like her work; sitting on her and it was awesome, a top effort."

In addition to the $15,000 stake on the race, Flaming earned a bonus of $8,000 in the Pearl Series (a New Zealand Bloodstock Insurance bonus scheme that offers $5 million in prize money and bonuses across 200 races for fillies and mares around the country) for the Te Akau Flaming Syndicate (Mgr D C Ellis).

Accepted for the Karaka Million (Listed, 1200m) last Sunday at Ellerslie, Flaming never received the scratching she required to make the field, having displayed attributes of determination and ability when finishing fourth in each of her three starts prior, including the Murdoch Newell Stakes (Listed, 1100m) at Pukekohe.

At the time of purchase, for $60,000 at the 2011 New Zealand Bloodstock Premier Yearling Sale, from the draft of The Oaks Stud, Mark Walker made the following comment:

“She is a lovely, athletic filly,” said Walker. “Her dam has done a fantastic job in producing the Eight Carat (Gr. 2, 1600m) winner Smoulder (Traditionally) and she was very well bought at the price.

“She shows plenty of strength, being an early foal and I can see her becoming a Breeders' Stakes (Gr. 2, 1200m) filly and training on to be a 1000 Guineas (Gr. 1, 1600m) filly. Plus, her dam being by Stravinsky is a huge plus.

Walker was accurate to the point, as the next target for Flaming is the Matamata Breeders' Stakes (Gr. 2, 1200m) on Saturday Feb. 22 at Matamata.

Smoulder also won the Great Northern Foal Stakes (Listed, 1400m), finished third in the 1000 Guineas (Gr. 1, 1600m), second in the Thoroughbred Breeders' Stakes (Gr. 1, 1600m), third in the Foxbridge Plate (Gr. 3, 1200m) and second in the Seymour Cup (Listed, 1600m). While the brother to this filly, Shanghai Bund (Bachelor Duke), showed plenty of ability winning his second start as a two-year-old over 1200 metres before finishing fourth in both the 2000 Guineas (Gr. 1, 1600m) and Levin Classic (Gr. 1, 1600m).

Picture credit - www.raceimages.co.nz