Fast Trial Has Bit Flash Primed For Winning Return

CLASSY sprinter Bit Flash makes his much anticipated return to racing in Monday afternoon's heats of the Orange Cup series at Bathurst.

Off the scene since last October, Bit Flash, a dazzling 29.64 Wentworth Park winner in September, steps out in the second of Monday's Orange Cup qualifiers, the $3,000 to-the-winner series a lead-up to the fast approaching Bathurst Cup.

"He's flying in trials," declared Clayton.

"At his last few starts last year he was having no luck. In the Black Top Final he got caught up outside a wide runner and then in a heat of the Million Dollar Chase at Nowra he got sandwiched early and at the first turn a dog speared into him and he fell.

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"After that I gave him a run at Goulburn to get ready for the Goulburn Cup and he had no luck again. He split his webbing in the run so I decided it was time for him to have a spell and a bit of a reset."

Currently a $2.40 favourite with Beteasy for Monday's Bathurst assignment, Bit Flash heads betting in front of the ideally drawn Mr. Edward in box one for trainer Jack Smith.

"He's always been a dog that improves with a look or two at the track," Clayton said of Bit Flash.

"I trialled him at Bathurst last Monday – which was his first 520m for three months – and he went 29.92. If he gets a clear run early he'll run his 29.70 and be better for it. I thought he'd come back a better dog from the spell and I think he has."

A finalist last August in the Group 2 Black Top at The Gardens, Bit Flash goes into today's heats as the winner at 13 of his 26 starts, included in those victories a track record breaking Wagga success over the 400 metres.

"He's proven he can measure up in the better races and run the time," Clayton added. “I really think there is a group race win in the dog.” 

And while Clayton is confident Bit Flash is on song for a winning return, he's urged punters not to dismiss Fierce Fran in the opening qualifier, the 17-time winner currently $3.80 in betting behind $2.20 favourite Zipping Byron, the son of Kayda Shae a flying 26.28 Bulli winner last time out.

"She has a good record off the eight," Clayton said of Fierce Fran.

"Her run at Bathurst last week was her first look at the track; she hadn't trialled there and she just felt her way around. She was never going to win the race from where she was but was going to finish second before she got galloped on and dragged down."

Winner at four of her eight starts when drawn box eight, Fierce Fran goes into Monday's Orange Cup heats in dashing form, winning two of her past five starts at Dapto in sub-30 fashion.