Flurry And Davison Hoping For Better Luck At Royal Ascot With Oh Cecelia

[Wandering Eyes]

Staton Flurry has not let a disastrous first foray into purchasing a Royal Ascot runner stand in his way of ticking off what he describes as 'a bucket list experience' with the leading American-based owner having worked out a deal for Albany Stakes contender Oh Cecelia (Starspangledbanner) on the eve of the meeting. 

Flurry may have left it late to guarantee his participation as an owner at this year's meeting but it's nothing compared to last year. After securing the Jack Davison-trained Take Me To Church at the Goffs London Sale for £300,000, Flurry was on a plane to England less than 24 hours later, excited about what lay in store. 

However, what unfolded was nothing short of a nightmare. Take Me To Church pulled a shoe on the morning of the Jersey Stakes and was therefore scratched from the race. The dream was over before it had even begun.

Beaten but unbowed, Flurry has returned to the same source in Irish-based Davison, with the pair hoping for better luck together when impressive Cork winner Oh Cecelia lines out for Friday's Albany Stakes. 

Flurry said, “We are looking forward to seeing what she can do over there and hopefully we can enjoy better luck than what we started out with last year at Royal Ascot!”

He recalled that luckless experience, “Take Me To Church threw a shoe the morning of the race and was just a little off when the vet came to look at him. We didn't have time to get a new shoe on so he was scratched. It was just some bad luck.”

Flurry is perhaps best known for having his recognisable black and white silks carried by Kentucky Oaks winner Shedaresthedevil. At 34 years of age, he has already accomplished plenty within the industry, and a good showing from Oh Cecelia next week would represent another milestone achievement. 

He said, “I claimed my first horse here in the States when I was 21. I am 34 now and it's just been a rollercoaster ride ever since. We've won the Kentucky Oaks with Shedaresthedevil and I was the leading owner at Oaklawn Park here at Hot Springs. We've had a lot of success – several Grade Is and lots of Listed successes as well. I have been with the right people and that is key in this business. You need to align yourself with the best, be that trainers, bloodstock agents and advisors. I feel like I have aligned myself with the best that there is in the States.”

He added on working with Davison, “I won two races with Jack late last year with a horse named Bucaneer's Spirit. I have a couple of other two-year-olds in training with Jack now and, when this opportunity became available to buy into Oh Cecelia, I decided to take 50 per cent. She won very impressively the second time up at Cork. The horse that finished second to her [Rogue Legend] has spun off two wins in a row and is pointing towards Ascot also. I believe he was purchased by an American buyer, John Stewart. It's something to look forward to because Oh Cecelia has beaten some quality horses. Hopefully she can continue that good run that she has been on and we can have some fun come Albany day at Ascot.”

The money that has been speculated on the private market for Royal Ascot-bound horses in the weeks leading up to the meeting would be enough to be listed on the stock market. Horses with even the remotest of chances are being snapped up left, right and centre as owners from all around the world bid to get in on what Flurry describes as a “bucket list experience”. 

Speaking about the lure of a Royal Ascot runner, he said, “I have always watched Royal Ascot on TV – usually NBC would have the coverage and I would get up early every morning to watch the Royal procession and everything that went along with it. I always wanted a starter over there and last year, I had zero expectations until I purchased Take Me To Church on the Monday before heading over to Ascot the following day. That was just a whirlwind. We decided straight after Ascot last year that we were going to try and come over again and it's definitely not as rushed this year. I'm looking forward to taking it all in this year and am so happy that this deal with Oh Cecelia could be worked out because, up until two weeks ago, I had no idea if I would have a runner or not.”

He added, “I've told Jack that there are three international races that I would love to have a starter in. Ascot is one but I'd love a runner on the beach at Laytown and hopefully we can get that done in September. Beyond that, I'd love a runner on the White Turf at St Moritz. These are experiences rather than races. Those are the three bucket list events for me.”

For all that these are bucket list events, Flurry hasn't become one of the most recognisable owners in America by simply taking part. He believes in his latest recruit and expects Oh Cecelia to acquit herself well in the Albany. 

He concluded, “If she runs like she has done on her previous two starts, and possibly improves, I don't see why we can't be in the mix. I'm excited to see what she can do. Declarations come out on Monday and hopefully we will have a better idea about the opposition and how we draw but we're very excited.”

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