Third Stakes victory for Flamberge

Racing first-up and carrying top weight, Exceed And Excel gelding Flamberge appeared to have a few things against him on August 30 when contesting the G3 Heath Stakes at Caulfield, but still managed to prove too classy for his rivals.

After a good get away from the gates, Flamberge settled behind stablemate Hard Stride (Street Sense), a last start winner of the Listed Regal Roller Stakes, who ensured a solid tempo throughout.

As they rounded the home turn, jockey Vlad Duric pulled the Peter Moody-trained galloper off the heels of the leader and he pounced, pulling away to win the race by one-and-a-half lengths from Rifleman, with Hard Stride in third. Having previously claimed two G3 races, his third Stakes victory at that level was his seventh career win from 18 starts.

Bred by David and Jenny Moodie’s Contract Racing, Flamberge is a full-brother to Listed winner and G1-placed mare Curtana, out of the G3-winning Blazing Sword mare Razor Blade who is also the dam of the G2-winning and G1-placed sprinter Sunburnt Land.

The sire of 85 Stakes winners highlighted by nine individual G1 winners including fellow Darley stallion Helmet as well as G1-winning juveniles Overreach, Guelph and Earthquake, Exceed And Excel is standing the current breeding season at Darley Kelvinside at a fee of $110,000 (inc. GST) while his son Helmet stands at Darley’s Northwood Park in Victoria at a fee of $33,000 (inc. GST).