Photo: Race Images - Grant Matthew
A powerful late surge that carried him to victory in the Listed James Bull Holdings Rangitikei Gold Cup (1600m) at Trentham on Saturday may have put a hold on an immediate jumping career for handy winter galloper Verry Flash (Zed x Opulence).
The seven-year-old older brother of champion mare Verry Elleegant claimed his ninth victory for owners Nick Bishara and Don Goodwin, courtesy of a patient ride by apprentice Faye Lazet who claimed the biggest victory of her fledgling career with the win.
Lazet didn’t panic when the Kevin Myers-trained runner made an awkward beginning that saw him back near last in the early running before being taken to the extreme outside of the track approaching the home bend.
Northern visitor Aromatic claimed the lead at the 200m and looked the winner, however Lazet had Verry Flash fully wound up at that point and his relentless finish carried him to a half-length victory with stablemate Kick On back in third.
Bishara, who prepared Verry Flash to win seven races before transferring him to the Myers stable with a jumping career in mind, managed to catch the race on television before heading off to feed up at his own stable and was thrilled to get the victory.
“Isn’t it amazing what can happen when you swap a mug trainer for a real good one,” he joked.
“He has always shown us the family ability, but last year we thought he may have met his mark so Don and I decided to see if Kevin might make a jumper out of him.
“He won first up on the flat for Kevin, who has been patient with him and he had had a trial and a jumpout before today so we thought he would be close to the mark, but maybe not a winner in that fashion.
“It was a lovely ride by the young girl and that black type is just a further bonus for his dam (Opulence) who Don owns and her daughter Black Lace who I own.
“I couldn’t get down there to see him race so watched it on TV before I headed out to the stable to feed up.
“It’s blowing a gale here and raining, but it doesn’t feel too bad after a win like that.”
Bishara isn’t sure where the horse will go next, preferring to let Myers do the planning for the horse, but he is keen for the legendary jumps trainer to help him achieve a boyhood dream.
“We don’t try and tell someone like Kevin what to do, so I’m not sure where the horse will go next,” he said.
“I do know there has been talk about having a crack at the Winter Cup (Gr.3, 1600m) at Riccarton in August.
“Kevin has mentioned the horse jumps pretty well and one dream I have always had is to take a horse to the Warrnambool carnival in Australia.
“If this guy can make it as a jumper, he could be the one to do that for me, which would be a real highlight and one I’m sure I’ll never forget.”
Verry Flash has now won nine of his 47 starts and over $219,000 in prizemoney. - NZ Racing Desk
