Old Flame Captures Linlithgow Stakes

Mark Smith - Saturday October 29

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.

It's J-Mac again with Old Flame (GB) (image Grant Courtney)

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.

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“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.”

Old Flame deserved that one (image Grant Courtney)

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). 

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Race Result - Tab Linlithgow Stakes Gr2 1400m

Flemington Track: Soft(7) Time: 1:23.60
1
Old Flame
- 5h Invincible Spirit (IRE) x Lilyfire (USA) (First Defence (USA))
Tnr: P & P Snowden Rdr: J B Mc Donald 55
2
1.5
Poland
- 5g So You Think (NZ) x Sun Song (AUS) (Desert Sun (GB))
Tnr: M D Moroney Rdr: C Newitt 53
So You Think
3
4.0
Ironclad
- 7g Dubawi (IRE) x Heat Haze (GB) (Green Desert (USA))
Tnr: Will Clarken Rdr: John Allen 56
4
4.7
Wild Planet
- 7g Animal Kingdom (USA) x Salutations (AUS) (Redoute's Choice (AUS))
Tnr: M, W & J Hawkes Rdr: Jye McNeil 55
5
6.2
Sinawann
- 6h Kingman (GB) x Simawa (IRE) (Anabaa (USA))
Tnr: A & S Freedman Rdr: B Melham 59
6
6.7
Crosshaven
- 5g Smart Missile (AUS) x Irish Colleen (NZ) (Shinko King (IRE))
Tnr: Ben & J D Hayes Rdr: D W Stackhouse 56
7
8.0
Pride Of Jenni
- 5m Pride Of Dubai (AUS) x Sancerre (NZ) (O'Reilly (NZ))
Tnr: C Maher & D Eustace Rdr: D Moor 53
8
8.5
Lord Vladivostok
- 6g Tavistock (NZ) x Soviet Lu (NZ) (Soviet Star (USA))
Tnr: Michael Hickmott Rdr: M J Dee 53
9
8.6
Catalyst
- 6g Darci Brahma (NZ) x Evana (NZ) (Entrepreneur (GB))
Tnr: M D Moroney Rdr: M Zahra 57.5
10
9.3
Wicklow Town
- 6g Canford Cliffs (IRE) x Afterburn (AUS) (Super Jet (USA))
Tnr: Julie Scott Rdr: Teodore Nugent 54
11
9.5
Turaath
- 6m Oasis Dream (GB) x Fadhayyil (IRE) (Tamayuz (GB))
Tnr: Maddie Raymond Rdr: W Buick 56
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