The European flat season is soon to unfold with the Listed Prix Omnium (1600m) at Saint-Cloud on Saturday won in great style by three year-old Wootton Bassett colt American Flag as a short priced favourite.
American Flag was having his first run this year following a debut second at Deauville last October followed by an easy victory at Saint-Cloud. He powered clear to win by three lengths.
“Last year after his win over the course and distance he showed us that he could be a horse with a great potential,” said his trainer Yann Barberot.
“He confirmed that today, even though he was not fully fit having only had an easy piece of work on the grass last Tuesday. That opens up possibilities, but so far he has only raced on soft ground and I don’t know how he will do over good or faster. The [G3] Prix de Fontainebleau is an option, but we won’t commit at this stage.”
A 102,000 purchase at the 2021 Arqana Deauville August Sale, American Flag is the first stakes-winner among five winners from good producer Tres Americanqueen, a half-sister to Group winners Tres Blue and Tres Rock Danon as well as stakes-winner Tres Rock Glory.
He is the 31st stakes-winner for Wootton Bassett, who covered 169 mares in Australia last spring and will have his first Southern Hemisphere yearlings for sale in 2024.
