Flag Of Honour Newest G2 Winner for American Pharoah
Making his second start after being imported from Australia, American Pharoah’s Flag Of Honour (4g American Pharoah x Godiva Rock, by Stratum) earned his first graded stakes victory in the Grade II Kennedy Road Stakes.
Trained by Julia Carey for R.M. and Mrs. J.M. Wanless, the gelding didn’t race far behind the pacesetter in the six-furlong synthetic race with just about a length separating the two. Jockey Kazushi Kimura clearly had a lot of horse under him around the turn with Flag Of Honour running comfortably.
Kimura didn’t fully release the gelding until the final furlong and Flag Of Honour quickly pulled ahead while in hand. While he was run down to within a nose at the line, there was plenty left in the tank if needed.
This is the fourth win in eight starts for the Gerry Harvey-bred, who is the second foal out of the Group I-placed Godiva Rock. The 4-year-old’s extended family also includes Group I winners Redding and Leica Smile.
This is the 10th Northern Hemisphere stakes winner of the year for American Pharoah, who has also registered 21 stakes performers this season.