AWESOME FLIRT BACK FROM BRINK

Absolute Flirt has shown her class and determination with a first-up win at Caulfield on Saturday following life-saving surgery.

The Danny O’Brien-trained daughter of Stratum required emergency surgery in March to correct a throat issue that was adversely her ability to breathe.

“It’s a huge credit to this filly, she’s as tough as nails, she’s been through a lot in the last six months and it is a huge credit to the team at Barwon Heads to have her right to go first-up," assistant trainer Ben Gleeson said.

The mare underlined her liking for racing on the fresh side with a well-supported first-up win at Caulfield.

The four-year-old was heavily supported to win the Neds Bet Back Handicap (1100m) on Saturday and did not let her supporters down and in doing so provided Damian Lane a third winner for the afternoon.

Sent off the $2.90 favourite, Absolute Flirt defeated Propelle ($21) by a neck with Heavenly Bridges ($31) a length away third.

Absolute Flirt has now been successful in four of her seven first-up assignments and was the class runner in Saturday’s race having been successful at Listed level as a two-year-old along three ‘black type’ placings as a three-year-old.

The mare was spelled after two summer runs earlier in the year with O’Brien’s assistant-trainer Ben Gleeson confirming Absolute Flirt required the life-saving surgery.

“She’s a filly that has had a long time between runs,” Gleeson said.

“We’ve always had a query whether she goes past 1100 (metres) but today she stuck it out.“There’s no gear on her now and she seems to be playing it better than ever so we’ll just work our way through the winter.

“There’s another fillies and mares race back here in a month, a benchmark 90, that’s her next target and maybe she can go into the early part of the spring fit.

“Whether she keeps racing or stud beckons, we’ll just have to play it by ear, but hopefully there’s a few more wins through winter.”

Story by RS Newswire

Pic by Racing Photos