Flamberge is on track for a competitive return in the Group 3 Sir John Monash Stakes (1100m) at Caulfield on July 15th following a smart win in a St Arnaud trial on Tuesday morning.
The multiple Group 1 winner has reportedly been working well in the lead-up to his competitive return and worked to the line well to finish a nose in the clear of the Simon Morrish-trained Lucky Nic over 900m this morning.
Weir has been thrilled with everything that the veteran has shown in recent weeks and is confident that he will provide a good account for himself when he takes his position in the Sir John Monash Stakes field.
“He’s sound and well and happy to be there doing it,” Weir told Racing Victoria.
“He’s a bit hard to get a guide on because he’s so casual.
“But I think the main thing is he is enjoying himself, he’s happy around the stable and he’s sound.
“His trackwork’s very casual, but he’s been like that ever since I’ve had him, so hopefully this prep we can get a better crack at him.”
Flamberge began his racing career under the guidance of the recently-retired Peter Moody in 2012 and has posted a commendable race record of eleven wins and nine minors, through a total of forty-one starts.
Resuming in 2015 for a smart second to Chautauqua in the Group 2 Rubiton Stakes (1100m), the Exceed And Excel gelding ran third in the Listed Bob Hoysted Quality (1000m) and failed to fire in the Group 1 The Galaxy (1100m), but responded with his first win at the highest level in the Group 1 The Goodwood (1200m).
Winner of the Listed Durbidge Stakes (1200m) most notably in the subsequent Spring Carnival, Flamberge resumed in 2016 for an impressive win in the Group 1 Oakleigh Plate (1100m), before repeating that effort in the Group 1 William Reid Stakes (1200m) on March 24th.
While unable to return to winning form through four autumn starts this year, the rising eight-year-old proved that he is still up to the task, finishing fourth in the Group 1 Black Caviar Lightning Stakes most notably.