Ardmore trainer Nick Bishara completed a weekend to remember when Verry Elleegant broke her maiden status in emphatic fashion at Ruakaka.
The three-year-old Zed filly made it a
winning double for Bishara and jockey Rowena Smyth when she emulated the
efforts of older brother Verry Flash, who had continued his winning ways at
Pukekohe 24 hours earlier.
Touted as a filly going places after a fast-finishing effort for second behind Cyber Attack at Te Rapa last month, the daughter of two-race winner Opulence had attracted plenty of offshore attention after her debut effort.
That attention is likely to increase exponentially in the next few days after she produced a last to first performance to win the NZB Insurance Pearl Series Race (1400m) by two and a half lengths without being fully extended.
"That was awesome," Smyth said.
"That was very impressive the way she picked them up and flew past them.
"I was in a tricky spot but I knew as soon I straightened that she can extend and that is when you see the best of her.
"She just took off. Once she gets over a trip when she is older she is going to be a lovely filly."
Bishara appeared a little stunned when questioned about the performance after the race.
"She's probably way more forward than Verry Flash at this stage of her career and may even have a gear or two more than he's got," he said.
"To just pick them up and dump them like that. She got back in trouble, over-raced and had to check off heels but just got to the outside and went bang.
"As long as the offers aren't too big to refuse we would like to head down to Wanganui for the Guineas over 1340m. It's a tight track but ability takes you a long way.
"I think Verry Flash can go right to the top and be a nice stayer through the spring but to be honest I don't know the bottom of this filly – she could be anything."
Bishara and Smyth delivered further rewards for stable supporters when Nulli Secundus led all the way to take out a maiden 1200m event later on the programme. – NZ Racing Desk
