By Chris Roots
Paul Murray remembers the first time he and his late father, legendary horseman Bede, laid eyes on Flash Fibian and the conversation they had afterwards.
"We were dropping a couple of horses at a stud and saw him in the paddock," Murray said. "Dad asked them about him straight away and when we were driving out he said that's a nice type we have to try and buy him. He is going to be a good horse.
"We didn't know much about the breeding then, but dad always had a good eye for a horse and when you looked at his page it was pretty good. And he has lived up to what dad saw in him and there is more to come."
Flash Fibian, a son of Ready's Image, went through the Inglis Classic Sale and was knocked down to the Murrays for a competitive $34,000 and has earned three times that on the track already.
Contenders again: Guard Of Honour, Hair Trigger and Flash Fibian fight out the finish of the Heritage Stakes.Credit: bradleyphotos.com.au
"The old man was always good at finding a horse at the right price," Murray said. "This was one of the last horses he bought, so it races for his estate and in his memory."
Bede Murray lost a battle with cancer this year but not before training Flash Fibian to be the runner-up in the Black Opal. He thought the three-year-old would measure up to better races over longer trips and it is no surprise to see him race at group level.
Flash Fibian takes on Saturday's Brian Crowley Stakes at Randwick, having his fifth start for Paul Murray, who assumed the training duties after Bede's death. The return has been good, a couple of wins at Wagga before returning in the spring with a fast-finishing second in the Heritage Stakes and what looks like an ordinary effort in the Roman Consul Stakes, where he beat one home.
While many of his rivals on Saturday are looking towards the hot Coolmore Stud Stakes, Murray will be patient with Flash Fibian.
"The thing with him is that he doesn't need to chase the big races in the spring because he is a gelding, so we are looking to place him where he can win prizemoney," Murray said.
"There are a few horses in the race that are looking to Melbourne but we have time on our side, so we can wait until the autumn to test him against those top horses again."
Flash Fibian has the right form for Saturday's sprint after splitting Guard Of Honour and Hair Trigger in a blanket finish to the Heritage Stakes, yet he is a $19 hope, while the other pair vie for favouritism.
"Dad thought he would get out to a mile and you saw in that first run that he can match it with the better ones provided there is speed on," Murray said. "In another stride he beats Guard Of Honour [the favourite on Saturday] and then in the Roman Consul the race didn't suit him.
"They walked and sprinted and he got left a bit flat-footed but wasn't that bad really.
"He has been very good since and I can see him getting the speed on again on Saturday and he will be hitting the line."