Fairway's Turf Online

Military Flag to fly high in new season

KUALA LUMPUR: Jan 7, 2024

MILITARY FLAG is one the youngest gallopers around in Malaysia, but three-year-old is set to fly high in the new season.

The New Zealand gelding landed in January last year, the first of Falcon Racing No 7 Stable's direct import into Malaysia. (The owners race a big string of horses in Singapore.)

The son of U S Navy Flag was given a lengthy preparation before making his debut in a Open Maiden event last November. He finished second in that race but a month later quickly showed his potential with a runaway 5 1/4-length victory in a similar race.

MILITARY FLAG has followed that up with another success in a Open Novice race at Sungai Besi here today.

Ridden once again by Jose De Souza, MILITARY FLAG jumped well and settled second just on the outside of BLACK PRINCE who decided to set the pace.

The pair shared the lead into the straight and in the wet conditions, it was MILITARY FLAG who did better in the final 200m when he slowly drew away from BLACK PRINCE, winning by 1 1/2 lengths.

"Nice strong win today," said trainer Simon Dunderdale. "Looking forward to a promising future with MILITARY FLAG."

"He (MILITARY FLAG) jumped well and we had a good cover and settled well outside the leader," said De Souza. "In the straight when asked for an effort, he responded well. Very promising horse."

RESULTS AT A GLANCE: Tote No / Horse / Trainer / Jockey / Position

1	CLASS 5 - 1600M
8	OFFICIAL	KC Tiang	S Ruzaini	1
	(8 b.a.g The Factor - Japali Bike by Zabeel)
1	Cher	NM Selvan	A Azizi	2
10	Kala Ghoda	L Moy	M Ekdihar	3
6	Tin's Machine	WC Lim	SU Lim	4

2	CLASS 5 - 1600M
1	CHAMPAGNE FINALE	SY Lim	M Ekdihar	1
	(8 b.a.g All Too Hard - Grande Annee by Gone West)
2	Miej	WC Lim	M Lukman	2
5	Happy Magic	HY Cheng	S Ruzaini	3
7	Waimea	L Moy	I Fikri	4

3	CLASS 4 - 1500M
3	BLEU MARINE	HY Cheng	H Haikal	1
	(8 b.ir.g Dark Angel - Blue Picture by Peintre Celebre)
10	Famous Name	AB Abdullah	AK Lim	2
6	Pacific Windsor	KC Tiang	S Ruzaini	3
7	Tauboss	SY Lim	A Suriya	4

4	OPEN NOVICE (SW) - 1250M
4	MILITARY FLAG	S Dunderdale	J De Souza	1
	(3 b.nz.g U S Navy Flag - Assume by Fastnet Rock)
3	Black Prince	EP Tan	KC Tham	2
6	Be Yourself	HY Cheng	H Haikal	3
2	Ankara	AB Abdullah	AK Lim	4

5	CLASS 4 - 1200M
7	LIM'S UNUQIE	L Moy	I Fikri	1
	(7 b.a.g Uncle Mo - Miss Concorde by Encosta De Lago)
9	The Saint	AB Abdullah	S Hafis	2
5	Stretchy Four	HY Cheng	H Haikal	3
6	Xanthos	NM Selvan	A Azizi	4

RACES 6 TO 11 CALLED OFF DUE TO THE ADVERSE WEATHER CONDITIONS