Flavour

Gallant racehorse Flavour was retired recently ending a career that has spanned the last 7 1/2 years.  When he started racing Doriemus had just won the Melbourne Cup, Sunline was only a foal, Northerly was a year away from being born, Might & Power wasn't even heard of and Saintly and Octagonal were a couple of promising young 3yos.  All but two of these star racehorses retired years ago while Flavour kept racing in the quality sprinting races year in and year out.  This is an overview of his career and a tribute to his longevity.

Flavour is from the flashy Sovereign Red mare Ice Cream Sundae.  He was her first foal with subsequent foals being the winner of his one of four starts Sorbet, Sherbert, Chop Chip who won two including his debut from 4 local starts before being sold overseas and now races as Thunderstood in Macau, the promising I Scream who has won two races during his early career and the 2yo filly La Melba who has her only race at stakes level this autumn. 

Ice Cream Sundae has since produced one foal that died and is currently back in foal to Rubiton for the first time since Flavour.

 Flavour's sire is the champion racehorse and sire Rubiton who is noted for producing horses that race well as they get older.  He was not noted for producing 2yos but Flavour went against that theory as has the recent star filly Innovation Girl and several other 2yo winners in recent times.

Flavour first appeared on a racetrack at the early 2yo trials where he easily won both at Canterbury and Randwick.  A month later Flavour had his first race start in the Listed Maribyrnong Trial Stakes at Flemington over the straight 900m.  He led throughout to defeat Red Rascal and Tennessee Spirit.

Another month passed before Flavour lined up again this time in the Listed St Albans Stakes at Moonee Valley on Cox Plate Day.  As Octagonal took the feature event Flavour kept his record intact settling in second place before running on to win by 4 1/2 lengths from Winger Charger and Bira.  The illfated Winger Charger went on to win the Magic Millions later that campaign while Bire staged an amazing comback in a race over the Flemington carnival when he was left hopelessly at the start yet powered home to win easily.  

On the final day of the Flemington spring carnival Flavour lined up in the Maribyrnong Plate as pictured below.  Carrying 58kg he settled third before improving to second on the outside.  Despite losing a plate and jockey Darren Gauci losing his whip Flavour and Samudera passed the post together.  The photo declared Samudera the winner but after a protest Flavour was awarded the race.   

Flavour was then spelled until the autumn.  After a trial in Sydney he opened his campaign at Sandown in Melbourne in a Blue Diamond Prelude.  Despite being checked in the run home Flavour crossed the line in third place a neck and short head behind Jumpin' Jive and Spartacus.

At his next start he was caught between runners and passed the post in fourth place behind Winger Charger again at Sandown.  Punters lost interest in the Rubiton 2yo and he started at 16/1 in the Blue Diamond Stakes at Flemington (due to the rebuild of the course at Caulfield) down the straight.  Paint raced away to victory but Flavour ran on for a clear second with Our Cashel third.  The run was enough to pursue a start in the Golden Slipper.  Back in Sydney he came from just behind the pace to win from Magic of Sydney with Batavian third in the traditional lead up the Todman Slipper Trial. 

Starting from barrier 10 Flavour raced in behind the pace and was chasing Paint as Merlene burst from the pack to win by 1 1/5 lengths from Paint with Flavour finishing third.  He then backed up a week later to run a close fourth in the AJC Sires Produce to Merlene, Clang and My Duke.

Flavour was then freshened for a brief Brisbane campaign.  First up he ploughed through the mud to defeat Foreign Minister by a neck in the Doomben 2yo Classic before filling the runners up position behind Anthems in the QTC Sire's Produce with Regal Centre third.  As stablemate Anthems continued to the spring carnival Flavour went for a break not returning to racing until late December.

In the Listed Razor Sharp Hcp the now 3yo ran on from well back to take second place behind Batwing with Montana Sands third.  Flavour then headed to Melbourne for the 1997 Autumn sprint races.  First up he was third to Spartacus and Regal Centre in the Rubiton Stakes before filling fourth place in the Group 1 Australia Stakes where Spartacus defeated Mahogany.  His third start was in the Orr Stakes but all eyes that day were on champion Saintly returning to racing following an illfated trip to Japan for the Japan Cup the previous November.  Near the leaders the whole trip Flavour finished fifth as Saintly came from an impossible position to win going away from Cut Up Rough with Star Dancer third.

He was then freshened and lined up in the Newmarket Hcp at Flemington.  Racing in second position he was swamped near the line finishing unplaced behind good sprinting mare Ruffles, Group 1 winner Catelan Opening and evergreen All Our Mob.  Back to Sydney and he was fourth to Mahogany and Ruffles in the Endeavour Stakes.

Flavour then won a welter at Rosehill before heading to the Adelaide Cup carnival at Morphettville for the sprinting double the Goodwood and the Angus Brut. 

In the Goodwood Hcp Flavour ran on from the back of the field to be beaten two lengths into fourth behind Bellzevir before taking on a quality field in the 3yo classic on the Monday.  Despite the wet track Flavour ran on well in the run to the post to fill second behind Blazing Reality with Apple Danish third.  Taken to Brisbane Flavour was unplaced on a heavy track in the QTC Cup before heading for a spell.

After two unplaced runs in Sydney he went to the Melbourne carnival where he powered home from the tail of the field in the Schillaci Stakes to run second to Toledo with Poetic King in third place.  Down the Flemington straight in the Salinger Stakes he was narrowly defeated by Notoire and Rock You before having another break.

Flavour returning to racing with an unplaced effort in the Lightning Stakes where General Nediym was too good for Notoire.  He was then unplaced but not that far from the winners in the Oakleigh Plate won by Singing the Blues and Newmarket won by General Nediym.  The smaller field in the Norman Carlyon Stakes at Moonee Valley suited Flavour as he came from behind to pace to defeat Rock You and Scandinavia.  Two unplaced runs on wet tracks at the Sydney carnival followed before Flavour was spelled for the spring.

Despite the high quality of the sprinters all the headlines were in Sydney as weight for age star Might & Power returned for what was to be his final campaign as a star filly from New Zealand starting to turn heads in the form of Sunline.  Meanwhile Flavour returned to racing for his 5yo season Ian McEwen Trophy where he defeated Towkay with Paint third.  A month later Flavour was fourth beaten less than a length by Show No Emotion and Theatre in the Chirnside Stakes. 

At his next start Flavour did better than his placing in the previous edition of the Salinger Stakes in defeating Scandinavia by a half head with Towkay third.  Given a break until January 1999 he won the race named after his sire in the Rubiton Stakes defeating Theatre and Paint.  A third to Grand Archway and Theatre in the Group 1 Australia Stakes followed before a let up leading into the big sprints.  Again Flavour showed that carrying big weights against big fields in the frantic sprints were not to his liking and was unplaced in both the Newmarket and Oakleigh Plate before a spell.

Returning to racing in late July Flavour showed his fighting spirit to dead heat for first with Newmarket winner Isca in giving her 3kg in weight with Joshua's Pride a close third.  He was then third in slow going behind Redoubte's Choice and Marstic in the Manikato Stakes.  Theatre defeated him in the Ian McEven Trophy before he was fourth to Magic Music and Paint in the Chirnside Stakes and unplaced behind the same pair in the AJ Moir Stakes at Moonee Valley on Cox Plate day.  After an unplaced effort in the straight race once known as the Linlithgow on Oaks Day Flavour went to the spelling paddocks.

After a first up fourth behind Miss Pennymoney and Redoubte's Choice in the Australia Stakes Flavour was last in wet conditions behind Sports and Falvelon in the Oakleigh Plate.  Back to the dry and he was less than four lengths from the winner Miss Pennymoney in the Newmarket Hcp and again went for a break.

The curse of the wet tracks struck again in the Monash Stakes where Honour the Name relegated him to second place before another unplaced effort behind the champion Sunline in the 2000 Manikato Stakes.  Flavour was then sent to Adelaide for the Spring Stakes but the very wet track saw the short priced favourite last of the 5 horse field behind Spice Doll.  

Given an 8 week break Flavour lined up for the Salinger Stakes on a slow track unplaced but only 2 lengths from the winner Easy Rocking.  Over the Cup carnival Flavour returned to the winners list carrying 59.5kg to win a welter over 1400m for a spell.

The 7yo again lined up in the Oakleigh Plate and was fourth in a blanket finish behind Miss Kournikova and Miss Pennymoney.  He was then unplaced in the Newmarket before being unplaced in two runs over 1400m to finish his 7yo season.

The now 8yo was reported as past his best and was perhaps facing retirement.  So he returned to racing with a fast finishing third to Windigo and Piavonic in the Bletchingly Stakes.  Piavonic went to shock race fans in defeating Sunline in the Manikato Stakes.

Flavour then headed to Adelaide and despite the wet conditions lined up in the Spring Stakes at Cheltenham.  To the delight of fans who braved the cold and wet conditions he stormed down the outside to win from Spice Doll with Star Hit third.

He was then unplaced in finishing less than three lengths from the winner Mr Murphy in the Group 1 Eat Well Cup before winning the Group 3 Melbourne Racing Club Stakes on Caulfield Cup day.

Two more unplaced efforts in the Yallambee Stud Stakes and the Group 1 Emirates Stakes followed before a spell.  He returned to racing with an unplaced effort behind Slalom at Mornington before another unplaced effort at stakes level over 1400m. 

Avoiding the big sprints the rising 9yo was second to Debrief in the Victoria hcp over 1400m before being unplaced in wet conditions and heading for another spell.

Flavour returned to racing finishing unplaced behind Fields of Omagh in the Aurie's Star Hcp after being near last most of the way.  In the Memsie Stakes he was near the lead throughout but was run down as Magical Miss defeated Fields of Omagh.  Tried over the longer distances Flavour produced his best run in running third to Mr Magoo and Debrief in the Carnival Welter on Oaks day at Flemington but he struggled usally finishing just behind the placegetters.  He was spelled after finishing last in the Sandown Stakes and returned for one last campaign in March this year on Futurity Stakes day (below). 

His best effort was second up fourth behind Desert Sky in a Welter at Flemington.  Flavour had his final race start in a heat of the Winter Championship at Werribee on May 15.  After racing in second position he was run down finishing 5th around 3 1/2 lengths from the winner Ruben.

Flavour had 79 starts in 8 seasons for 14 wins 8 seconds and 8 thirds with stakesearnings of $1,584,813.

© Cyberhorse 2024 Jenny Barnes Published 25/06/03