Flamingo Rose defies three-year absence from the track to score for new trainer Michael Wigham

Flamingo Rose defied an absence of 1,241 days to make a winning start for Michael Wigham in the 2m½f handicap.

Despite a slow break from the stalls, the eight-year-old outperformed her odds and lack of race-fitness to win by three lengths from Cherry Cola. Liam Wright, taking 5lb off the topweight, did the steering, kicking the mare to the front two furlongs from home.

"We're delighted, It was a good performance," said Wigham. "She's been off the track for years and she was 22-1. She had a few niggly problems that hadn't been quite right but she's gone there and done it well."

Anthony Carson previously trained the daughter of Casamento, whose last win had been in a Southwell bumper in May 2021. Flamingo Rose had six starts after that for Carson before making her belated stable debut for Wigham.

The Newmarket-based Wigham is wasting no time with his new recruit and could run her at Southwell at the weekend.

He said: "She's in on Sunday but we'll see how she comes out of it before she goes there with a penalty."

Commanding performance

The Callum Shepherd-ridden Command The Stars justified 7-4 favouritism in the 7f novice. The George Scott-trained son of Sea The Stars defied a 7lb penalty to follow up last month's breakthrough win at Beverley.

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