3 minute read

Flying Agent relished the heavy conditions to win Gotta Take Care Hurdle at Ballarat.

Amy Mcdonald and partner Lee Horner see a bright future for Flying Agent but say the jumper is still a work in progress. 

Switching back to the smaller jumps in the Gotta Take Care Hurdle (4000m) at Ballarat on Sunday, Flying Agent relished the heavy conditions to record his fourth jumps win. 

Flying Agent registered a 19 length win in the 4000m hurdle having raced in steeplechases at his previous three outings. 

In switching back to hurdling, McDonald said she wanted to try Flying Agent over ground, but did not want test the gelding in Sunday's feature, the Grand National Steeplechase, at his fourth start over the bigger jumps. 

McDonald said while Australia's longest race, the Grand Annual Steeplechase at Warrnambool next May, sounded tempting, an extra year of racing over the bigger obstacles would be more beneficial for the nine-year-old. 

Having displayed a liking for the tricky Warrnambool circuit, McDonald said Flying Agent was likely to be set for the Brierly and Thackeray Steeplechases earlier in next year's jumping season and then aim for the Grand National Steeplechase at season's end. 

The 2022 Grand Annual was then likely to become a target. 

"I don't think a Grand Annual is his go so soon even though he is an older horse, but he's got a long way to go in terms of switching off to get that 5500 metres," McDonald said. 

"I don't know that there's many that jump as beautifully as he does. 

"He just does it for fun. 

"Some horses are very workmanlike and they get from A to B but he loves it and he's very good at it."