First Hong Kong winner for Australia as Flagship Glory enters Derby frame

Coolmore's young sire Australia was represented by his first winner in Hong Kong when Flagship Glory struck in a Class 3 handicap at Sha Tin on Sunday.

The four-year-old, who was bred by Saleh Al Homaizi and Imad Al Sagar and owned by Alan Spence, won two of his six starts for Roger Varian before transferring to Hong Kong.

A half-length winner on his third start for Frankie Lor, Flagship Glory was initially a 37,000gns purchase from Book 2 of Tattersalls October Yearling Sale when consigned by New England Stud in 2018.

From the family of the brilliant multiple Group 1-winning Alexander Goldrun, the gelding could now step up in class for the BMW Hong Kong Derby.

Australia: enjoyed a breakthrough year in 2020Credit: Coolmore

His trainer said afterwards: “I think 2000m is ok for him. He’s sired by Australia, he got 2400m, so hopefully the distance should be ok."

“When he first trialled he was a little bit keen and I wanted to take him step by step. We kept him at 1400 metres twice and then to 1600 metres today – I have plenty of time for the horse.

“It doesn’t matter if he can’t get into the Derby but if he gets in, we will run him.

"He jumped slowly away again and then he was on the inside and sometimes there is traffic on the inside but he still won well.”

Australia, winner of the Investec and Irish Derbys in 2014, enjoyed a breakthrough year in 2020 with Galileo Chrome's victory in the St Leger providing the ten-year-old with a first top-level winner. Order Of Australia followed up when running out a shock scorer of the Breeders' Cup Mile.

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