ALTHOUGH they didn’t appear to beat much, Mike de Kock-trained Maiden winners Black Flame (headline photo) and Everlast gave the impression that they have more victories coming, both impressive at Scottsville on Wednesday.

Three-year-old filly Black Flame made a decent enough 1200m debut recently and enjoyed the 1950m of Race 4, second time out. She had to be nursed around the bend by Anthony Delpech and raced green down the straight, shifting out, but won with authority all the same. She drew clear late, winning by 3.25-lengths for owner Rupert Plersch.

“Black Flame is an immature filly who can only improve with racing,” said assistant trainer John Buckler. “Well done to Mr Plersch, who has a few other young horses in the stable with us.”

Black Flame is by Silvano from a Fort Wood mare and is likely to make her presence felt over even more ground. She was raised at Cheveley Stud.

Everlast, found his galloping rhythm late in the race.

Also bound to improve over further is Moutonshoek-bred Everlast, by Tiger Ridge. He looked a beaten horse coming into the last 400m of his 1600m contest, but Anton Marcus got the colt’s mind on the job and they got going nicely late, winning going away with challengers on both flanks.

“He looks a nice type in the making,” Buckler said about Everlast, who is owned by Markus and Ingrid Jooste.