Trish Dunell
The Nicholas Bishara-trained Verry Flash kept up a run of winning form with another comprehensive victory when taking out the Haunui Farm 1600m at Pukekohe on Saturday.
With regular pilot Rowena Smyth aboard, the four-year-old race-favourite jumped nicely from an inside barrier to settle in mid-field on the rail. Smyth guided Verry Flash to the inside of pacemaker Waipipi Lad to take control around the home bend and establish a winning break that they kept up with a strong gallop to the line.
“He [Verry Flash] was happy enough and I saw [Sam] Spratt in an earlier race cut the corner and just get beaten so I thought I’d do the same,” Smyth said.
Concerns that the son of Zed would not make it through a heavier track seemed to be unfounded.
“It was more holding today but it doesn’t seem to bother him, as he gets through it well,” Smyth said. “When he gets on those better tracks, he’ll go further.”
Bishara was quick to echo those thoughts about the horses’ chances on better ground.
“He is going through the grades,” Bishara said.
“His trackwork on a good-ish track last Saturday was phenomenal.
”He’s got stamina plus and I can’t wait to get him up over ground as he’s going to be a really nice stayer.”
Bishara usually gives his horses a week off after they race but with the way that Verry Flash has been bouncing back he suggested he might look at giving him a run in The ITM Interprovincial Challenge (1600m) at New Plymouth on 25 August.
“He hasn’t had a trip away, so it might be a good learning curve for him,” he said. “But we will see how he pulls up tonight.”
The form of Verry Flash is a welcome relief for Bishara who has endured a lean spell stretching back over 18-months.
“I had eighteen months in the wilderness where I think I only had two runners as we just didn’t have any decent horses,” he said.
“I’m rapt.”
Bishara will look to extend his winning run when Verry Flash’s full sister Verry Elleegant has her second start at Ruakaka tomorrow. – NZ Racing Desk