Big win for Kiwi filly at Caulfield

Nick Bishara was comfortable with the reality of nursing a hangover all the way back to Auckland as he prepared to board a flight home from Melbourne on Sunday morning.

The Ardmore Lodge-based trainer had celebrated long and hard alongside his fellow owners after their filly Verry Elleegant, who is now prepared by Darren Weir, scored a stunning victory in the Gr.3 New Zealand Bloodstock Ethereal Stakes (2000m) at Caulfield on Saturday afternoon.

‘‘I’m a bit dusty this morning as it was a big night,’’ Bishara said. ‘‘It was just an amazing day and to win a race like that with a little old New Zealand filly doesn’t get any better. I’m just living the dream.’’

Bishara organised several friends to race Verry Elleegant on lease with Don Goodwin and expected the filly would take some time to reach her potential.

‘‘The Aussies are saying she is a lightly framed filly but to me she is just a typical kiwi staying type,’’ he said.

‘‘I knew she had a motor but I didn’t think she would show it until she strengthened up.’’

A flashing run for second in a maiden two-year-old event at Te Rapa in July convinced Bishara his opinion of the filly was justified but also that she might be capable of continuing her preparation without an immediate break. ‘‘After what she did at Ruakaka at her next start the phones started ringing off the hook.’’ Verry Elleegant had come from last to loop the field and effortlessly break her maiden over 1400m at Ruakaka.

‘‘Then she ran and won at Matamata and then we got serious on what to do. The offer that we accepted meant we could retain twenty-five percent ownership of her and transfer her to Darren and that led us to where we have got to today.

Saturday’s victory saw bookmakers install Verry Elleegant as the $2.50 favourite for the Gr.1 Kennedy Oaks (2500m) at Flemington on November 8.

NZ Racing Desk