Story by Loveracing.nz
Connections of Flash Feeling (NZ) after winning the 2025 Country Achiever Eric Musgrove at Flemington Racecourse on June 07, 2025 in Flemington, Australia. (Photo by Reg Ryan/Racing Photos)
Talented galloper Flash Feeling notched his first victory for Ballarat trainer Dan O’Sullivan when defeating Liberami to land the 2025 Country Achiever Eric Musgrove (2000m) at Flemington on Saturday.
The six-year-old son of Iffraaj is at his fourth stable and the change of environment worked the oracle along with a positive Dean Yendall ride.
Ballarat trainer Dan O’Sullivan was pleased with how Flash Feeling was tracking coming into Saturday’s win.
“At his first-up run here, I probably had him too fresh and he was keen and all over the joint,” O’Sullivan said.
“The other day, Dean rode him patiently and he switched off well and was quite OK through the line.
“Then today from that soft draw he began really well and he was able to get covered up. He travelled beautifully for Dean and gave a really strong kick.
“He has always been a horse that has had pretty good ability, it’s only his third run for me but it’s just been a matter of finding the right race for him.
“I was a bit worried this race may have been a bit tough for him, but he has been competitive at benchmark 100 before and when everything went so right he was able to capitalise.”
O’Sullivan said the gelding had adapted to life in Ballarat well.
“He’s a dude of a horse, he is very casual around the place and easy to handle. He can be a bit of a handful to ride, so we have had to tinker with the gear and think we have got it right with the head gear on him now and he’s in a good space,” he said.
“We have increased his work a bit without going too over the top. It was just a matter of getting him nice and fit and up to a distance that suited him, aided by the barrier and a good ride,”
Flash Feeling is a graduate of the New Zealand Bloodstock Ready To Run Sale, where he was prepared by Prima Park and purchased by Dean Hawthorne for $160,000.
