McEvoy Hot for Tassie Oaks with Flag of Pride

Monday, 24 February 2003 00:00
r4tmcevoy.jpg (11355 bytes)While most on the attention in Tasmanian for Lindsay Park will focus upon the dashing stayer Jeune's Mark in the Group Three AAMI Launceston Cup, the stable will be chasing another feature race when the promising young filly Flag of Pride contests the $97,950 Carlton Draught Tasmanian Oaks.

A daughter of Personal Flag, Flag of Pride burst into Tasmanian Oaks considerations when she beat an identical field in the listed Strutt Stakes (2100m) at Hobart earlier this month.

Prior to heading to the Apple Isle, Flag of Pride had finished a handy fourth to Triangular at Moonee Valley. That good effort had followed a runaway Geelong Maiden win.

Flag of Pride has drawn beautifully in barrier two and will be ridden by the in form Stephen Baster, who is fresh off winning Saturday's Group One Oakleigh Plate aboard River Dove.

McEvoy was extremely pleased with the filly's win in the Stutt Stakes and is very much looking forward to her running in Wednesday's Oaks.

"It was a very good win (in the Strutt) and she is a filly on the way up," McEvoy reported.

Flag of Pride will meet a near identical field in the Oaks and is expected to be the horse to beat.

Among her rivals are the competent local gallopers including Fracas, Venus a Go Go, Confabulator and Drei, who comes into the race as the in form wild card.

PIC - Quentin Lang.