Ghostly Grey Wins Again as FLIC EN FLAC scores at Sunshine Coast Sunday

21 Oct 24

FLIC EN FLAC having won her first two races in succession to start her career, would require another 14 starts before our mare would again grace the winner’s circle.

This is what she achieved on Sunday at the Sunshine Coast over 1600m when winning Race 7 the Moonshine Hairdressers BM58 Handicap (1600m) in a Time: 1:38.24 Last 600m: 0:36.25.

It was terrific to see our ghostly grey 5yo mare FLIC EN FLAC 5yo Grey Mare (by FROSTED (USA) from MAURITIUS) gain a decent barrier and thanks to a clever ride by Justin Huxtable, our Chris and Corey Munce trained mare was far too good for her peers, running away to win eased down by a widening 3.8 lengths.

Jumping away cleanly from barrier 1, she was the early leader before another runner came across to give us the perfect trail on the paint behind the leader. Then another runner put tempo into the event rushing around the outside to take up the running.

This shuffled us back to fifth spot, two pairs back on the fence as our long striding mare settled into a rhythm.

The race was on in earnest as the field thundered around the home turn and passing the 300m FLIC EN FLAC was still bottled-up in behind a weakening leader and another runner at its girth.

At the 275m Justin angled FLIC EN FLAC off the heels of the leader and gave a hip and shoulder shunt to the horse on the outside of that runner. Our mare at the 250m had barged her way thorough the gap to give chase.

At the 200m the race was over as FLIC EN FLAC swept to the lead and stride by stride her winning margin was increasing.

Such was the dominance, the final 100m was just a sit and steer job but the margin kept growing until the camera flashed with almost 4 lengths clear of the chasing brigade.

Having been victim of bad barriers 7 of the 8 previous starts in Queensland, finally FLIC EN FLAC could settle on a big roomy track and get into a rhythm and deliver her boom big finish which we have always known she had.

Congratulations to Chris and Corey Munce who had the mare looking spectacular in the parade and she raced accordingly.

JOB DONE!

The Sky Channel Racecaller described the race over the concluding stages:

“At the 450m, third the outside is Rocked and Flic En Flac back on the rail, creeping forward is Port Morant wider, likewise Nitroglycerin and Valentino Tease is looking for the way clear.

“At the 400 just in front here is Flying Rothe, coming down the outside Nitroglycerin runs home well, and bursting through now is Flic En Flac.

“Flic En Flac has grabbed the lead, Rocked on the outside, also still there is Lovezeladys, but Flic En Flac is off and gone.

“At the 100 marker has raced away 3 lengths in front and Flic En Flac, Flic En Flac has Won; second Lovezeladys and 3rd to Rocked.”

“Flic En Flac drew a gate today; can make a difference, and she got that run one off the rails and shot through.

“Beautiful ride Justin Huxtable.”

Justin Huxtable pre-race came out and reported to the owners how he would like to ride the horse:

“Speaking with Chris this morning, he was just under the assumption that he thought the horse might have been a bit close last start. It just wanted to pull along a little bit too much, which was taking away from the finish, but today he thought if we can just get it to begin nice, and just let the horse flow out of that mile chute, let the rest of the field form around us, and if we can have one or two in front of us just going at a nice gallop, then just get that nice sit in behind the speed. I’m sure the horse will be hitting the line nice and strong.”

Post-Race Justin came back to the winner’s circle and said:

“Pretty standard, what we said pre-race. Begun nice, certainly I was anticipating a little more speed. I kind of knew on paper there wasn’t a hell of a lot, so I was a bit worried. Having to let one go and then come back, I thought they would go real slow, but I was lucky I had a few from wider gates that tested each other. Actually, it was a nice enough gallop.

“I got shuffled back a pair, I was a bit concerned about that with the rail out 10 metres, but I had that much horse underneath me, at the top of the straight, I was able to push my way out and it was quite a good win.

“She was able to run right through the line, she was nice and strong right through the line, I was quite impressed with that win.”

Chris Munce did a post-race report on Monday morning saying:

“Terrific win from this girl at Caloundra. I’m really proud of that effort.

“She was given a great ride by Justin Huxtable who put her in just behind the speed there. She relaxed beautifully for him and travelled into a nice rhythm. He really saved all his carrots and timed his run to a nicety. Congratulations and well deserved. She had been knocking on the door for quite a while and it was good to see a quicken and extend the way she did there on Sunday.

“She pulled up well this morning, no issues, very sound and healthy. So, we will stick to her normal routine and space her runs three weeks apart. That was a well-deserved win. Congratulations once again she's lovely mare to do anything with.”

CONGRATULATIONS to our Dynamic Ownership Team that race FLIC EN FLAC: Dynamic Syndications Racing, Mr S P Loane, Mrs C Ciappara, Ms J A Murphy, Mr I R Corwell, Mr G Tew, Mrs K Tew, Mr R J Burdon, Kiwi Hunter No. 2, Mr D Goodwin, Mrs R A McDonald, Mr R P Turner, Ms P Speight, From The Hip Racing, Mrs A Taylor, Mr G J Cooper, Stolk Racing, Mr J E Maxwell, Mr B J Woodley

FLIC EN FLAC took her career resume to:

Summary: 16-3:1:3. Prizemoney: $67,525.

Good: 8:2-0-2; Soft: 6:1-1-1; Heavy: 1:0-0-0

FLIC EN FLAC recorded Dynamic Syndications 16th Race Win for the Season and our 906th Race Win overall.

Onwards and Upwards!