Flight Bijou is Te Aroha pick

Press, 6 February 1986, Page 20

Flight Bijou is Te Aroha pick

Special correspondent Auckland While he will be a fair way short of his best distance, Flight Bijou seems certain to run' prominently and very likely win the 1600 m W. S. Goosman Memorial at the Te Aroha Jockey Club’s meeting today.

The race will be his first since he went so well when second behind Bonecrusher in the New Zealand Derby and a preliminary to his Sydney trip, and a further meeting with Bonecrusher, in the sAustsoo,ooo A.J.C. Derby on March 29. Flight Bijou is one of four three-year-olds in the Goosman Memorial, which is the first leg of the T.A.B. treble. None of the other three seems yet to be quite in his class, though Blue Kingdom shows considerable promise. Along with one of the four-year-olds, Lady Tristana, and two five-year-

olds, John Junior and Four Ems, he could provide Flight Bijou with plenty of opposition.

Besides his undoubted talent, Flight Bijou has proved wonderfully consistent, with two wins and five minor placings from seven starts this season.

Except that the luck of the running went against him he might have beaten Bonecrusher in the Avondale Guineas instead of being only third and he certainly gave the other horse a good race in the Derby.

Blue Kingdom, last time at Te Aroha, won over 1400 m in style and he has had a further win, at Ellerslie, and a second placing (Avondale) meanwhile.

John Junior, when winning, and Four Ems, for equal third, both raced well last time, in the 1600 m Douro Cup at Trentham on January 20. John Junior scored by just

half a length but he seemed to have a bit in hand. Four Ems suffered some crowding and would have been closer otherwise.

Lady Tristana, after lacking strength, seems better equipped nowadays for regular racing an with a win, two second placings and a third in her last four starts she is performing accordingly. All the signs are that she will continue to do well.

The $12,000 IZH Charity, over 1400 m, and the 2000 m Castlemaine XXXX will be other Te Aroha features.

Silver Rhapsody, especially with his favourable barrier position, and Ebony Belle and Susi Bear look the pick of the horses for the IZH Charity. The field for the Castlemaine XXXX contains several talented middledistance runners, notably Trocane, Tunaeke, Mr Chicken George and Our Janie.