Well-Bred Australia Filly Battles To Maiden Victory

The well-bred Fly The Flag (3f Australia - Approach, by Darshaan) made a successful step up in trip when winning a competitive novice stakes at Chelmsford on Thursday afternoon.

Trained by John Gosden for owner/breeder Denford Stud, the grey finished third on her July debut over ten furlongs, before finishing fourth over the same distance later in the month. Stepping up to a mile and five and a half furlongs on Thursday, she soon led under Robert Havlin and quickened when asked over two furlongs from home. Ridden out as rivals challenged, she dug deep and overcame being bumped inside the final furlong to win by three parts of a length.

Fly The Flag is closely related to Group 2 winner Midas Touch (Galileo), who also finished second in the St. Leger and Irish Derby, while her half-sister Coronet has won two Group 1 contests this season. They are out of Approach, who is a Listed winning half-sister to top-class miler Aussie Rules.