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.

&ldq

Advertisement
uo;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.”

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). 

Advertisment

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
More Reading...
One to Watch – Hawkesbury
Castelvecchio has gone from nowhere to somewhere during the course of this spring with three stakes-winners putting his name in lights and he had a promising three year-old colt salute at Hawkesbury on Thursday that has now won two of three starts.
Sires With Winners - Thursday November 21
Here is the full list of 32 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Churchill Colt Pulls Off Stunning Pinhooking Result at NZB Ready To Run
Chad Ormsby has enjoyed plenty of racetrack success this year with pinhooks that he has been unable to sell at the Ready to Run Sale, but the multi-talented horseman had a very different outcome with the standout member of his 2024 Riverrock Farm draft at Karaka on Thursday.
Vale, Danny Champion
The thoroughbred racing industry is in mourning following the passing of respected horseman Danny Champion.
Castelvecchio Out for Remainder of Season
Aeliana’s late charge into second place in the $1.5million Group I MRC Thousand Guineas last Saturday stamped her as the filly to follow out of the race, but it wasn’t quite enough to put her sire Castelvecchio to the top of the second season sires list and he is now out of service at Arrowfield following surgery last week.
Ka Ying Rising connection draws Hayes team to Shamexpress at Karaka
With one of the world’s most exciting sprinters flying the flag for David Hayes in Hong Kong, it has been no surprise to see the trainer’s sons zeroing in on progeny of Windsor Park Stud stallion Shamexpress during the Ready to Run Sale at Karaka this week.
Blockbuster Sale as NZB Ready to Run Records Tumble
Expectations were exceeded at Karaka with tremendous results witnessed across two days of selling at NZB’S 2024 Ready to Run Sale, confirming the demand for proven racetrack results and quality New Zealand-prepared horses.
Million-dollar Hour for Leung at NZB Ready To Run
Hong Kong bloodstock agent Willie Leung had a big hour at Karaka early on Thursday afternoon, spending more than $1 million to secure two well-credentialled colts at the NZB Ready to Run Sale.
City of Troy Crowned 2024 Cartier European Horse of the Year
Outstanding Justify colt City of Troy was crowned Horse of the Year at the 2024 Cartier awards on Wednesday night in London at a star studded ceremony at the Dorchester Hotel.
Arkansaw Kid Brother Sells for $520,000
A well-related son of Harry Angel provided a late highlight in the final hour of the 2024 NZB Ready to Run Sale at Karaka on Thursday when he was knocked down to a $520,000 bid from bloodstock agent Morgan Carter.