Flower Islands blooms after break

Mathew de Kock feared that Flower Island might just be short of peak fitness for Sunday’s 4Racing BSA Sales Cup over 1160m at Turffontein. But his hope that her class could compensate for any lack of sharpness after a 16-week layoff proved well founded.

Coming to the 400m-mark Flower Island raced nicely into the lead from just off the pace, and kept going nicely to win in the hands of Callan Murray.

Raced by Jess and Steven Jell, Mike de Kock, Chris Haynes, George Ragunan, Noelene Malherbe and Fieldspring Racing, the winner cost R500 000 at the BSA National Yearling Sale and made it two from two for stakes of R257 188.

By Rafeef (Redoute’s Choice), the Mauritzfontein/Wilgerbosdrift-bred Flower Island is out of Mary Slack’s Gr1 SA Fillies Classic winner, Orchid Island (Silvano), who won five times up to 1800m from sixteen starts.

“We have a high opinion of Flower Island, but she really needed it today and there is lots of improvement to come,” Callan said. “She’s got a good head on her.”

Mat commented: “We’ve had an affinity with Flower Island’s siblings and her owners. It hasn’t been smooth sailing since her debut run so I have to commend our whole team for getting her here in good shape after her niggles. We have a lovely young string, our staff’s working hard and our clients are very supportive.”

Flower Island could be heading for Hollywoodbets Scottsville on 23 May for the Gr1 Allan Robertson Championship – Mat said that a decision will be made soon, as she will be “heading down Durban way”.