Flamboyer will be following the rain this week
The area which has the most rain is likely to decide whether noted wet tracker Flamboyer runs in a feature race at Newcastle or the Gold Coast this week.
Flamboyer returned to his best form when he led all the way on a soft track to win an Eagle Farm open handicap last week.
Trainer Kelly Doughty has nominated Flamboyer for the $150,000 Group Three Newcastle Newmarket on Friday and the Listed Goldmarket Stakes at the Gold Coast the following day.
The gelding, whose sire Clang was also happy in the wet, has won nine races four on good tracks.
But Doughty believes the gelding is now better on soft going on which he has won five times.
“There is not much doubt he needs the sting out of the track these days as he gets older. If he can get a relatively soft lead on a wet track he can be hard to beat,” Doughty said.
“If Newcastle looks too strong we can stay home and go across the road to race for similar prize money in the Goldmarket.”
Doughty said the major factor would be the weather and the possibility of a wet track.
“They are predicting rain for Newcastle but also for the Gold Coast. So let’s hope at least one of the predictions is right,” she said.
Flamboyer has done a great job for Doughty and her husband Garry who bred the gelding.
“He cost only the $2000 service fee and he has won over $500,000. So he really has been a bargain. But the entire family have been good for us winning a stack of races,” Doughty said.
The Newmarket attracted 17 entries headed by Leebaz and Happy Clapper while 13 horses are nominated for the Goldmarket Quality with last-start Sunshine Coast Cup winner Sir Moments the highest rated.
