TORONTO, October 2, 2024 – Multiple graded stakes winner Flag Of Honour (AUS) takes on 10 rivals in Saturday’s Grade 2 $250,000 Nearctic Stakes Presented by The Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance, at Woodbine.  

The six-furlong event for 3-year-olds and upward, to be contested over the E.P. Taylor course, will mark the fifth consecutive stakes appearance for the 5-year-old son of American Pharoah-Godiva Rock (AUS).

Trained by Julia Carey, Flag of Honour finished an uncharacteristic seventh in his previous start on July 20, the Grade 2 Connaught Cup, run at seven furlongs over good going on the E.P. Taylor.

“We are just going to put a line through that race,” said the multiple graded stakes-winning conditioner. “It just didn’t go right for him, so we decided to give him a little break and then bring him back. We had thought about running him in the (Grade 3) Vigil (Sep. 14), but I thought it was a little short, preparation-wise, so we waited for this race.”

One race prior, Flag Of Honour took top prize in the Grade 3 Jacques Cartier Stakes, an impressive 1 ¼-length score at six panels over the Woodbine main track on June 1.

“It was a very nice win,” said Carey. “He showed a lot of determination throughout the race.”

In his North American debut on Oct. 29, 2023, the gelding was third in an allowance race at six furlongs over the Toronto oval main track.

His first graded success came next time out, on Nov. 18, in the Grade 2 Kennedy Road.

“That was very impressive,” praised Carey. “It was a challenge getting him there last year. We had him come over from Australia and we were so lucky the allowance race filled, which meant we had a race under our belt heading into the Kennedy Road. So, in a sense, that win was the most rewarding.”

Owned by R.M. Wanless and Mrs. J.M. Wanless, Flag Of Honour launched his career in 2022 with a pair of victories on the turf, one at Newcastle, the other at Rosehill, and went on to post a 3-0-0 record from six starts overseas. 

“When he got to Woodbine and I saw him for the first time, I noticed he was very muscular with quite a big head. He had a very kind and intelligent eye to him. He was, of course, very tired from travelling all over the world, but he just came to hand so quickly and is so very professional. They did such an amazing job training him there. He’s just a lovely, class horse.”

A $330,391 (U.S.) purchase at the 2021 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale, Flag Of Honour was bred by Mr. G. Harvey.

Gary Sutherland is the groom and Terry Husbands is the exercise rider.

Other starters include multiple graded stakes winners Patches O’Houlihan, and War Bomber (IRE), Soaring Free Stakes winner First Empire, Karl Boyes Stakes winner Let My People Go, and graded stakes placed I’m A Gambler (IRE).

Field for the Grade 2 Nearctic (Race 9)

Post – Horse – Jockey – Trainer  

1 – Dhabab (IRE) – Ryan Munger – Edward Vaughan

2 – Outlaw Kid – Sahin Civaci – George Weaver

3 – First Empire – Patrick Husbands – Mark Casse

4 – Let My People Go – Walter Rodriguez – Victoria Oliver

5 – Patches O’Houlihan – Sofia Vives – Robert Tiller

6 – I’m A Gambler (IRE) – David Moran – Kevin Attard

7 – Bal a Kazoo – Emma-Jayne Wilson – Robert Gorham

8 – Caroline Street – Declan Cannon – Brendan Walsh

9 – Flag Of Honour (AUS) – Julien Leparoux – Julia Carey

10 – War Bomber (IRE) – Rafael Hernandez – Norm McKnight 

11 – Bring Theband Home – Patrick Husbands – Mark Casse

Chris Lomon, Woodbine 

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