Snowden Racing and Will Johnson Bloodstock were active at the Tattersalls Horses In Training Sale during the week, and it’s not difficult to find a reason why with the likes of Old Flame (GB) coming out of the sale.
Second in the Group II Shannon Stakes at Randwick on September 24, Old Flame (GB) looked a tragedy beaten in the Listed Weekend Hussler Stakes at his most recent start.
The 4yo son of Invincible Spirit redeemed himself in Saturday’s Group II Tab Linlithgow Stakes (1400m) at Flemington.
Under a perfectly timed ride by James McDonald, Old Flame (GB) defeated the pacesetting So You Think gelding Poland by one and a half lengths with the Dubawi gelding Ironclad a further two and a half lengths back in third.
A winner of two of his four starts in Britain for Ralph Beckett Old Flame (GB) was a 250,000gns purchase for Snowden Racing / Will Johnson Bloodstock from the Juddmonte draft at Tattersalls last year.
“It was pretty to watch, he had him in the right spot, and just when that other horse came around him three-deep at the 800m it just gave us something to drag into the race,” Paul Snowden said.
“He’s a good chaser, this horse, once you push the button on him, he’s really got more to give once you do put him under pressure and I think he’s an exciting horse, he’s definitely got a big future.
“His European form is both ways, anti-clockwise and clockwise, but he seems to have a better finish on him once we do get around this circuit and I think he’s got a lot more to give, that’s for sure.
Snowden said they will give some thought to the Champions Mile.
“It’s certainly something we’ve always thought of, so it’s always in the back of our mind. I think what this weather does in the next 4-6 days will determine if we run or not.
“It’s no secret I’ve chased him (McDonald) pretty hard to ride this horse, I think he’d really suit him. Full credit to Mark Guest his manager, he put up with me and conceded defeat and put him on. It was an absolute train wreck the other day so it’s good to see him bounce back.”
A half-brother to stakes-placed winners Chaleur (Dansili) and Dalvey (Dansili), Old Flame is out of Lilyfire (First Defence) a half-sister to dual Listed winner Tantina (Distant View), dam of Group III Meydan Dubai Duty Free winner Cityscape (Selkirk), Group II winner Bated Breath (Dansili), and stakes-placed Scuffle (Daylami) the dam of Logician, Suffused and Collide.
Bred by Juddmonte Farms, Old Flame (GB) is the 146th stakes-winner for 4-season shuttler Invincible Spirit (IRE).
