EXCITES gelding and first crop son Flag Officer showed what an incredibly tough and honest racehorse he is with a dashing post-Derby win at Ascot last Saturday.
The Paul Jordan trained gelding was having the eighth start of this current campaign which has seen him tried right the way up to a mile and half in the WATC Derby.
His brave 2-lens fourth should have been enough to send most horses to the paddock but this is one galloper who clearly thrives on racing.
“And it’s not as though he has anywhere to hide in his races,” adds Vinery’s Conor Phelan.
“When you are out in front leading, whether it’s over 1100m or 2400m it’s not easy to try and wear out some of the big fields that have chased him.
“He has won from 1100 to 1800m so to be honest, I am not sure what his best distance is going to be as he progresses, the Danewin’s were versatle and got better with age, we are seeing similarities with Excites already.”
Phelan saved some praise for Jordan who has managed the horse magnificently throughout his career.
“Flag Officer has had 13 starts, he won on debut and now he’s won at his start,” says Phelan.
“As well as that, he won a stakes race on the way to the Derby and has earnings of $210,950 in a pretty short time frame.
“Paul paid $34,000 for Flag Officer, so there’s a serious return that has been made on the horse up until now with the likelihood of more to come.”
