The well weighted Flamberge handled the heavy Rosehill track today to score an emotional win in the Group 3 $150,000 Sebring Stakes (1200m).

Flamberge, green, holds off Hot Snitzel, red, to win the Sebring Stakes. Photo by Steve Hart.

Trainer Peter Moody gave Flamberge a great chance after the four year old dropped 2kgs on his last start fourth to Kencella in the Group 3 $150,000 Bacardi Untameable Stakes (1100m) at Rosehill on March 22.

And Moody also pointed out that Flamberge had finished fifth at his previous start in the Group 1 $1m Lexus Newmarket Handicap (1200m) at Flemington on March 8.

Winning jockey Chad Schofield was able to brush aside the sad emotions of the week after his brother in law Nathan Berry passed away and dug deep to push Flamberge ($10) to the line to fight off the $4.20 favourite Hot Snitzel to score by a head with Bennetta (15) finishing in third spot.

“It’s is terrific to see Chad bounce out there. It’s been a hard week for all concerned, the family, good to see him get the monkey off his back today and I’m sure he is thinking of young Nathan,” Moody said.

“The key to this horse is the weight, 57.5 kgs last week, a fortnight ago, just anchored him. You go back through his career and I think he is almost undefeated with 55.5kgs and less on his back outside of his Newmarket fourth and not many of these nomed for the Newmarket let alone run in it.”

Schofield had Flamberge fly the gates and was almost two lengths in front when the hooves hit the ground and the young rider was able to rate the race well in the lead on the heavy the ground.

At the 300m the heavily backed Hot Snitzel cruised up to Flamberge and looked to go straight past him but Schofield was able to get the Moody trained gelding to respond and finished off the race just as he started it.