“HE just literally craves competing. There’s no other words for it, he craves competing,” says Oregon horseman Rich Fellers, speculating on how the evergreen character Flexible will adjust to life after his stellar career.

Not that there is any sign of Flexible slowing down with the Cruising stallion already on the campaign trail for an eighth World Cup final appearance. And it is a hallmark of a horseman who, when asked what was the highlight from a career brimful of choices, including their London Olympics top-10 place, numerous Grand Prix wins and a World Cup final victory, rates it as the discovery that “Flexi” was still full of running at 19 years of age.