Flash Flood notches winning hat-trick at The Valley

Flash Flood has stretched out to 2040m and completed a winning hat-trick with a hard-fought win at Moonee Valley.

After wins at Sandown and Caulfield, Flash Flood had his first try at 2040m on Saturday and landed the prize in the Luna Hand Care Handicap.

Ridden by Carleen Hefel who had ridden the Ciaron Maher and David Eustace-trained galloper to his previous two wins, Flash Flood ($3.20) scored by a short-head from Irish Flame ($61) with the $3 unibet favourite Milford a half-length away third.

Eustace described Hefel’s ride as ‘cool’, saying she got the gelding into the right spot and produced him at the right time.

“At his try at 2000 (metres), he had to dig in,” Eustace said.

“We’ve worked out that he appreciates that extra little more ground now. We had him fresh and running over seven (1400m), but he has gone to another level over further.

“Hopefully that will progress and whether he gets a little bit further again, time will tell.

“I would say he’ll be running over the same trip next start and just while the heat of the spring isn’t there, hopefully he can knock off another one.”

Hefel had to change plans aboard Flash Flood after it was expected Keats would take up the lead.

Instead, it was the runner-up Irish Flame who took up the running and produced a courageous fight back when challenged before the turn.

“I knew there would be pressure in the small field, and we wanted to be handy, but I had to change plans a little bit and follow the leader,” Hefel said.

“I think he runs the trip. He was tiring late, and I don’t know how much further he will get, but he dug really deep and held on today.”