Trainer Kris Lees says there’s plenty of reason to be confident debut winner Flag Of Honour has a bright future but he won’t get carried away before seeing how he measures up at Rosehill on Saturday.
There was plenty of expectation surrounding the two-year-old when he stepped out for the first time on his home track three weeks ago, on the back of an eye-catching trial, and he didn't let supporters down coasting to a 1-1/4 length win.
Kris Lees believes the Furphy Handicap (1400m) is a natural step for the gelding, who cost $425,000 as a yearling, but still a task to remain unbeaten.
"It's a good test coming from a provincial maiden, albeit against older horses, to a Saturday two-year-old race but I think he will hold his own and run very well,'' Lees said.
"He's a nice horse, he's still very raw and got a bit to learn but he does look a mile, mile plus, horse in time."
Flag Of Honour, $5.50 with TAB on Thursday, settled near last in a 1200m maiden on debut and appeared to take some winding up before he stretched out in the soft 7 conditions to score.
So it's no surprise that Lees wants to step the son of American Pharoah out in distance but he still expects to be conceding a bit of a start once again.
"Once he got into his stride he was good,'' he said.
"There looks to be a bit of tempo and he's drawn off a little bit so he will be back in the second half."
With a heavy track at Rosehill, Lees had no hesitation in backing up Snowzone in the FAB Industrial Logistics Handicap (1100m) following a game second behind Conscript last weekend.
It was five weeks between runs going into that event, also run on a heavy track, so he'll have a good grounding and Lees hopes the five-year-old can repeat his effort.
"He just loves the wet ground so we will take advantage while it is there,'' he said.
"He was good the other day, I thought for a couple of strides he had the leader covered but it found and he was still brave."
Among the leading Newcastle trainer's Rosehill team is new Kiwi acquisition Cacofonix who steps out in the Bowermans Handicap (1200m).
Enough was thought of the colt for him to line up in the Group 1 Levin Classic (1600m) at his fourth race start so Lees feels he has something to work with but also that he might find the trip, having not raced below 1400m, sharp.
"He will give away a bit of start form his draw but I think he will hit the line well and set up for his prep,'' he said.
"I think there is a bit of upside. He will be better again over a bit further and if he gets through the ground he will be strong late."
Meanwhile, Mugatoo should make his long-awaited return to racing at Randwick next week with the forecast looking like serving up forgiving ground for the Lees stable star.
