Geoff’s two-year-old colt ready to ignite the Flame

Geoff Webster came away from the Melton harness racing trials earlier this week satisfied as he unveils another stable runner with the ‘Dougs’ prefix on Saturday night (May 13) in the Prydes Easifeed 2YO Pace.

Named in honour of Webster’s late brother, Dougs Flame (Flaming Flutter) will make his racetrack debut at headquarters to keep the memory of the popular harness racing identity flickering among his friends.

The appearance of Dougs Flame comes only days after his older half-sister Dougs Babe finished third behind Amazing Dream in the Blue Chip Matchmaker Series Final at Yonkers in New York.

Webster said Dougs Flame had progressed since finishing third in his first trial at Melton a fortnight ago.

“For some reason he paced a bit roughly on the turn in his first trial, but he paced better winning his trial at Melton on Tuesday,” Webster said.

Webster concedes it is a tough assignment first-up for the youngster.

“Look he’s not quite there yet, but he’ll be competitive on Saturday night and be a nice enough horse in the future,” he said.

Dougs Flame is by Webster’s former dual Inter Dominion Grand Final place-getter Flaming Flutter.

“He’s the only horse by Flaming Flutter in the country,” he said.

Later in the night, Dougs Flame’s older half-brother Dougs Platter lines up in the Dynamic Print 3YO Pace after being beaten into second place while leading at Kilmore last week when a $1.07 favorite.

“He was terribly disappointing at Kilmore and Chris (Alford) said he just felt dull and flat,” he said.

“He’s a nice horse, but I’m going into this race with my fingers crossed now.”

Meanwhile, David Aiken would dearly love to salute on Max Delight in the inaugural running of the Lennytheshark Free For All.

“It would be nice to win it,” Aiken said.

Aiken prepared Lennytheshark for the majority of his illustrious career, which was highlighted by wins in the 2015 Inter Dominion Grand Final and the 2017 Miracle Mile.

Max Delight has finished runner-up at his past two starts and Aiken is hoping the nine-year-old can go one better on Saturday night.

“He is certainly going well enough to win and there has been nothing wrong with his past two runs,” he said.

“Two starts back he got shoved four wide on the turn when he was making his run and he fought on pretty well last week when he sat parked in a race where whoever got the top was going to be the horse to beat.”

Aiken believes the multiple Group 1 winner is still capable of competing at the highest level.

“He is still dangerous when the race is run to suit and I think he has another nice race in him,” he said.

Aiken will drive Max Delight, while stablemate Letsrockletsroll is partnered by Mark Pitt.

For complete race entries, click here.

by John Dunne, for Harness Racing Victoria