Two smart three-year-olds have flown the flag for Flying The Flag over the last week.
Last Saturday the Sean Tarry-trained Flying The Flag colt Electric Gold ran an eyecatching third in the Grade 2 WSB Gauteng Guineas and on Wednesday at Hollywoodbets Scottsville another three-year-old by Flying The Flag, the Mike Miller-trained gelding Strawberry Bear, impressed with a start to finish victory over 1200m.
Electric Gold started at generous eachway odds of 25/1 on Saturday, considering he is a long-striding sort who always looked likely to be one of the strong finishers over the galloping 1600m trip with it’s long 800m straight.
He is going to be a serious contender for the Grade 1 WSB SA Classic over 1800m, considering in his only ever start over that trip he won by 3,50 lengths.
Strawberry Bear’s connections had been debating before Wednesday what his best trip was because he had also won over 1400m.
He sprang out of the gate on Wednesday like a scalded cat and despite galloping with enthusiasm in front was still able to pull away from the field in the closing stages to win by 2,40 length under Serino Moodley.
He was running off a 92 merit rating, so still has a bit to do to get into a race like the Grade 1 Golden Horse Sprint, although the handicappers were impressed and raised him seven points to a 99.
Sprinting might be his best option considering over further the three-year-old features from now on in will generally be on weight for age terms, where he might be a bit outgunned.
Strawberry Bear has certainly provided owners Tony Jelinski and Sterling Miller with a lot of fun and the strapping grey has a bright future.
Flying The Flag moved down to Advocate Altus Joubert’s Riethuiskraal Stud in the Western Cape last year.
Picture: Strawberry Bear wins full of running on Wednesday under Serino Moodley (Candiese Lenferna).
