The South African-bred Flax, weighted to carry 60 kgs in Saturday’s $50 000 Castle Tankard, remains a mystery as far as most punters in Zimbabwe are concerned.
However, thanks to a local super sleuth we have some information. By Silvano (GER) the story about Flax which appears below was written after the nine-year-old’s last race at Kranji. (He raced 29 times in Singapore, for nine 1sts, two 2nds, four 3rds and two 4ths…earnings S$ 1,291,144.05)
OLD WARRIOR FLAX NOT OVER THE HILL Video of Flax races in Singapore
Michael Lee
20/09/2015
With his stunning win in the $200,000 Group 3 Committee’s Prize (1600m) on Sunday, game nine-year-old Flax has pulled off a feat not many horses at Kranji or elsewhere can boast on their resume – win four Group races in four consecutive years.
Ironically, that hardiness and longevity in the South African-bred has come through only in the latter years after his initial racing career was plagued by a rare proneness to dehydration. One of the most heart-rending but at the same time inspiring moments of racing at Kranji was witnessed when vets, officials and bystanders alike chipped in to douse Flax with buckets of water after he fell in a heap a few metres after he flew home to nail a 1400m race in 2012. After a few minutes, he got back on his feet to everybody’s relief.
But of course, his proudest moments have far outshone this one Achilles’ heel, when against all odds, the little prize fighter of Dennis and Gael Evans (not much of him around 440kgs!) has overcome his heat stress issues with astounding victories at the highest level.
Racing at Borrowdale Park in Harare - Zimbabwe 