‘Flora Of Bermuda’ Race Horse Finishes Fourth
[Written by Stephen Wright]
Simon Scupham, the Bermuda Thoroughbred Racing [BTR] chairman, hopes Dame Flora Duffy’s “magic dust” will rub off on the syndicate’s latest addition named in honour of the Olympic gold medalist and multiple time world champion.
Flora Of Bermuda was purchased for 340,000 guineas from Longways Stables at the recent Goffs UK Breeze-up sale, chosen by John Warren, who is regarded as one of the world’s leading bloodstock advisers.
The two-year-old filly debuted at the Chasemore Farm British EBF Fillies’ Novice Stakes at Sandown Park in Surrey yesterday [May 16], finishing an encouraging fourth.
Another juvenile to note for @amoracingltd.
Graceful Thunder (Havana Grey) travels powerfully and battles on under a strong Kevin Stott ride for strike on debut for @gbougheyracing ???? @Sandownpark pic.twitter.com/GiFsNUpunD
— Racing TV (@RacingTV) May 16, 2023
Ridden by James Doyle, wearing the Bermuda pink and navy-blue silks, Flora Of Bermuda went off at 15-2 in the five-furlong race in good to soft conditions, challenging leader and eventual winner Graceful Thunder, the 7-2 favourite, during the final furlong.
Trained by Andrew Balding, based at Park House Stables, Kingsclere, near Newbury, Berkshire, Flora Of Bermuda has impeccable breeding as the daughter of Dark Angel, a prolific sire who won four of his nine races as a two-year-old, including the St Leger Yearling Stakes, Mill Reef Stakes and Middle Park Stakes.
“We are delighted to have purchased such an exciting filly from the recent breeze-up sale at Goffs UK and have decided to name her ‘Flora Of Bermuda’,” Scupham wrote on the BTR Instagram page.
“This is, of course, a nod to the unique Flora found in Bermuda. More importantly, though, it is a recognition of the achievements of Dame Flora Duffy, who is held in such high esteem in Bermuda.
“If a little bit of Flora’s gold dust were to rub off on our filly, that would be just wonderful.”
Since forming a decade ago, BTR has owned several Bermuda-themed horses including Johnny Barnes, Queen Of Bermuda, Horseshoe Bay and Great Sound.
Umm Umm how much Bermy dollahs is 340,000 guineases? sound like a lot!
^ Obviously someone who started primary school after Feb 1970 when we converted to the Bda dollar.
Learning dollar was a piece of cake compared to all that pound , shilling and pence stuff plus ha’pennies and farthings. And that included knowing about Guineas . Valued at roughly one pound plus one shilling , for some reason .
On the day we converted to the dollar it took $2.40 to buy a pound so back then a guinea would have been worth about $2.75
1 pound, 1 shilling to guinea, but the way spotty wrote “guineases” suggests to me that his or her tongue might be planted in his or her cheek .