Trainer Nick Bishara is confident his progressive four-year-old stayer Verry Flash will put in a good performance in the Rating 82 Risk Management Group Premier (2100m) at Te Rapa on Saturday as he heads towards loftier targets.

 

The full brother to Verry Elleegant finished fifth at Counties last start, his third run of the current campaign, and he will again be ridden by Rowena Smyth on Saturday.

 

“We're very happy with him,” Bishara said. “We took him out and galloped him with one of Nigel Tiley's on Tuesday morning, just to bring him on a bit.”

 

“It's taken all three runs to get him fit and ready to run 2100m. I thought he just peaked on his run a bit at Counties and that's brought him on plenty. We're pretty confident he'll go a big race on Saturday.”

 

Bishara said the rating 77 galloper was on a program aimed at the Gr.1 Barfoot & Thompson Auckland Cup (3200m) on March 9.

 

“He's in the Auckland Cup,” Bishara said. “Safely through Saturday we'll probably look at the race at Matamata, the Kaimai Stakes (Listed, 2000m), or the Nathans Memorial (2200m) on the first day at Ellerslie. 

 

“Those are the two options at this stage. It’s probably more than likely we won't back him up in the Avondale Cup (Gr.2, 2400m) even if he wins.

 

“We'll just play it by ear, but he'll be in the Auckland Cup on four or five runs so he should be pretty much spot on.”