Flight Bijou progressing

Press, 30 August 1986, Page 32

Flight Bijou progressing

PA Wellington Flight Bijou, a high class performer from last season’s vintage three-year-old crop, is making pleasing progress after an enforced lay-off. His Matamata trainer, Dave O’Sullivan, reports that the Noble Bijou colt, while still a month away from any serious test at speed, is coming along nicely. “He is doing all right, he is just coming along quietly doing a lot of pace

work and that is all.” The son of Noble Bijou and Country Flight is one of numerous excellent gallopers which fill the O’Sullivan stable and Dave O’Sullivan is in no hurry to pressure his charge. “I am just waiting for the tracks to firm a bit before I ask him to do much.”

O’Sullivan described Flight Bijou as a very good three-year-old and a close look at his classic form confirms that high

opinion. Flight Bijou did not contest the 2000 Guineas or the Bayer Classic but ran fourth to Hot Ice and Avon’s Lord in the Waikato Guineas before contesting a thrilling Avondale Guineas where Bonecrusher won by a nose from Hot Ice with another nose to Flight Bijou. Staying looked to be his forte and he was installed the favourite in the New Zealand Derby ahead of Bonecrusher but had to

bow to the Pga Asa horse which was now displaying exceptional ability. Flight Bijou won at Te Aroha after the Derby before straining a tendon in his off front leg at a subsequent start. “I have been training horses for a long time now and with a tepdon you take it as it comes because the odds are sometimes not too good,” said O’Sullivan, “We are not getting too excited over this horse on account of the fact that he had

tendon problems and they could recur," said O’Sullivan.