Consistent sprinter Flamberge produced the best performance of his career to date to take out the 2015 The Goodwood at Morphettville this afternoon.
Lord Of The Sky was a drifter in The Goodwood betting markets after he drew towards the outside of the field when the barrier draw was conducted on Tuesday, but the talented sprinter was able to show his customary speed to take up the running from Tudor in the early stages of the race, while pre-race favourite Black Heart Bart was settled towards the tail of the field.
Flamberge wins the biggest race of his career, the Group 1 Goodwood at Morphettville. Photo by Jenny Barnes
Jockey Vlad Duric gave Flamberge a cozy run just behind the leading group in The Goodwood and the Exceed And Excel gelding shot through at the right time before fighting off Lord Of The Sky to record the biggest win of his racing career to date.
Flamberge stamped himself as a Group 1 contender when he took out the Group 3 Standish Handicap (1200m) at Flemington on New Year’s Day last year and he finished a credible fifth in the Group 1 Oakleigh Plate (1100m) before he finished his autumn preparation with a win in the Group 3 Sebring Stakes (1200m) at Rosehill Gardens on April 5.
The five-year-old started his spring preparation with a win in Theshark.com.au Stakes (1100m) at Caulfield, but he failed to fire for the rest of his campaign and did not have a race start at the highest level of racing.
Flamberge returned to his best form with a second place finish behind Chautauqua in the Group 2 Rubiton Stakes (1100m) at Caulfield on February 14 and he was a credible third in the Listed Bob Hoysted Handicap (1000m) at Flemington on March 7, but he failed to fire in the Group 1 The Galaxy (1100m) at Rosehill Gardens on March 21 and he went into The Goodwood as a $21 chance.
Lord Of The Sky produced a game effort to finished second at Group 1 level for the second time in a row following his second place finish behind Chautauqua in the Group 1 T.J. Smith Stakes (1200m) at Royal Randwick on April 6, while there were a host of hard luck stories in the race.
Black Heart Bart was settled too far back in the early stages of The Goodwood, but he was still able to charge home to finish fourth and Under The Louvre was unable to get out at the right time before he rocketed home when he found clear running to finish third.
