With his stunning win in the $200,000 Group 3 Committee’s Prize (1600m) on Sunday, game nine-year-old Flax has pulled off a feat not many horses at Kranji or elsewhere can boast on their resume – win four Group races in four consecutive years.
Ironically, that hardiness and longevity in the South African-bred has come through only in the latter years after his initial racing career was plagued by a rare proneness to dehydration. One of the most heart-rending but at the same time inspiring moments of racing at Kranji was witnessed when vets, officials and bystanders alike chipped in to douse Flax with buckets of water after he fell in a heap a few metres after he flew home to nail a 1400m race in 2012. After a few minutes, he got back on his feet to everybody's relief.
But of course, his proudest moments have far outshone this one achille’s heel, when against all odds, the little prize fighter of Dennis and Gael Evans (not much of him around 440kgs!) has overcome his heat stress issues with astounding victories at the highest level.
The son of Silvano’s first silverware came as a six-year-old when he claimed his highest accolade, the Group 1 Raffles Cup (1800m) with Venezuela jockey Jose Verenzuela in the irons in 2012. One year later, he captured the Group 2 Chairman’s Trophy (1800m) with South Africa’s Barend Vorster up at lukewarm odds of $52 which were even longer ($75) at his next feature win the following year, in the Group 3 Jumbo Jet Trophy (1400m) when ridden by Brazilian jockey Ivaldo Santana.
Though the Newbury Racing Stable galloper had not visited the winner’s circle since that third most unexpected ‘black type’ win, he has not been doing too badly at his well-spaced runs for trainer David Hill.
At his last start (only his 28th in four seasons) in the Chairman’s Trophy, he was unable to replicate his 2013 run, but he lost no admirers when he closed off late for a two-length sixth to Stepitup, whom he was meeting again on Sunday, albeit four kilos on better terms in the handicap feature.
Talks of retirement were even suggested by Hill after fellow Newbury stablemate Meteor Mike scored his final win a few weeks ago and was booked on a South African-bound plane straightaway, but with Australian jockey Michael Rodd (his fourth different jockey of a different nationality to score on him in a big race) rating Flax ($74) to a nicety before they hung on for dear life in Sunday’s Committee’s Prize, these days of lazing around in the South African veldt may have to wait for a while.
“I’m not sure if he will be retired just yet even if I did say he will bow out on a winning note. He’s still fit as you could see and he may run again in the Kranji Mile or Raffles Cup, I’m not sure yet,” said Hill as he caught his breath after the exciting win.
“Meteor Mike was different as his legs weren’t good but this guy can still go around. It’ll be soon but that might not have been his last run.
“He’s such a great contender that I don’t want to kill him with too much racing. I just want to look after him.
“There was no pace and I discussed with Michael before the race we should go forward. Michael rated him very well and he’s gone all the way. What a special horse he’s been to us!”
The South African-based Evans, who have often visited Singapore to see either of their two biggest equine heroes, Flax or Ato (notably the Group 1 KrisFlyer International Sprint in 2012) snare a feature win at Kranji, were just thrilled to bits they had been able to witness this latest feat from their prized galloper.
“I cannot believe what this horse can do at the age of nine. He’s such a wonderful horse,” said Evans, a Durban July winner with Legislate last year.
“Thank you to David, my wife Gael for her support from Day 1 and everybody at the stable for the great work they have done on our horse and the Singapore Turf Club for putting together another great day of racing.”
Already a major revelation to Kranji at only his first season of riding, Rodd was, however, posting only his second Group success in Singapore, the first one being the Group 1 Singapore Guineas (1600m) with Affleck in May.
Whether it was just a Group 3 win or not, the Melbourne Cup-winning hoop was just as chuffed, especially as he was riding one of Kranji’s all-time favourites for the first time.
“Even if I’ve only been riding here since the beginning of the year, I’ve of course heard all about Flax and I’ve looked at his videos,” said the Australian jockey who was at a riding treble (Lake Huka and Hee's A Maverick scored earlier).
“He’s all heart and he can come from the back and be up on the speed. From his awkward gate (11) today, I was able to jump well and bring him back to sit third, but then we decided to roll the dice and I let him go to the front.
“He just put his head down like a pro and we were able to steady up the pace. Upon straightening, I was giggling to myself as I couldn’t believe how much horse I had underneath me.
“They were coming at us left right and centre, including Alan’s horse (Fastnet Dragon), but he just fought him off so bravely.”
Half the battle was indeed won when Rodd was successful in riding Flax on a piece of cotton after they charged to the top after early leader Majestic Moments (Nooresh Juglall) slowed up the pace.
As he steadied up the ship, Rodd established an even tempo to the race which did not give the backmarkers much of a chance. Stepitup (Manoel Nunes) was one of the runners who faced an uphill task when he was seen being hard ridden from the halfway point even though he enjoyed a ground-saving run on the rails.
When the big 14-horse field swung for home, Majestic Moments almost drew level with Flax, but could not quite up the ante. Favourite ($13) Fastnet Dragon, who was resuming since his enormous third in the Emirates Singapore Derby in July, was peeled out wide for his run, and looked like he could run Flax down, but rustiness maybe got the better of him as the old stager kept kicking to gain the verdict by a short head.
Third another 1 ¼ lengths away was Majestic Moments who managed to keep off the fast-finishing Cheetah On Fire (Matthew Kellady) by a head. The winning time was 1min 35.49secs.
Brave as he was, Stepitup, under the back-breaking 59kgs, saw his amazing run of three wins in a row, including two at Group level, come to an end, running sixth, just under four lengths off Flax.
With that ninth win from 29 runs, Flax has now amassed a handy collect of close to $1.3 million for the Evans.
