Wagga Record No ‘Flash' In The Pan

BIT Flash's track record breaking performance winning the Butch Pertzel Memorial Final (400m) at Wagga last Friday night didn't surprise his trainer Mick Clayton in the slightest.

Even if he really shouldn't have been there to see it.

Back on March 10, when Clayton was at Temora preparing Bit Flash for the Temora Cup Final, the Sutton Forest trainer began having dizzy spells and blurry vision before collapsing when being observed down near the kennel wash bay.

Quickly whisked away to Temora Hospital by Ambulance, Clayton was then moved to Wagga Hospital before being flown to St. George Hospital. After a stop there, he was shuttled to Prince Of Wales, arriving at around 3am the next morning.

"It was a full blown stroke but I'm on the road to recovery now – the doctors did tell me around 40% of people die from it, so I know how lucky I am," reflected Clayton on Thursday, still grappling with some side effects.

Suffering from what doctor's described as arterial vascular disease, Clayton's near miss was from a buildup of blood sitting on the brain.

After convalescing in Prince Of Wales Hospital for 3 ½ weeks in the neurology ward, the popular Clayton ultimately elected to sign himself out, without the blessing of doctors.

"I couldn't stay in there any longer – it was like torture, I basically didn't eat or sleep the whole time I was in there, my diet was Special K and bananas," said Clayton.

"I was extremely thankful for all they did for me in there but I had to talk them around to leave. The best way to put it was that they didn't want me to leave but they wouldn't stand in my way either, I've basically become an outpatient now. I reckon if it was up to them I'd probably still be there now, actually I definitely would be."

Desperate to return to the home front to as he describes "restore confidence", Clayton is taking the slow and steady approach, very much the same tact he's opting with his exciting youngster Bit Flash, the not yet two-year old taking a length and half off the track record when scoring at Wagga last Friday night, running 22.53.

"His owner Trevor (Rhodes) is an extremely loyal fella, sadly I lost a couple of owners while I was in Hospital which was disappointing but Trevor and many others have been very understanding," said Clayton.

"In Bit Flash's (Barcia Bale x Ash Flash) heat win the week before he went 10.67 early which is really quick and I thought to myself that if he came out in the final he'd break the record. When I saw he went 10.58 early on Friday I put my arm around Trevor and said get ready for him to break the record – I'm glad I was right, or I would have looked nice and silly."

Now a winner at seven of his 12 appearances, Bit Flash lines up in the final event at Bulli this Saturday night, set to go around unbackable odds in the fourth heat of the Ladbrokes Monthly Medal Series (400m).

"He's run 22.40 at Bulli before but I'd say he can get down to 22.30," said Clayton in what's an ominous warning to his opposition this Saturday.

"I'm a big believer in taking things along slowly early doors and he's not even two yet. I did the same with Hear The Drums during his career and before him Slick Simzy, I've been lucky to have a good one in the kennels the past 5-6 years.

"I've got no doubt Bit Flash will run a strong 500 metres and it won't be too long now until I look to get him to Wentworth Park. He did go down to Melbourne for the Launching Pad while I was in Hospital but he was taking on group dogs with no real experience – it should hold him in good stead for the future though."

And while he's happy to take the slow and steady approach for now, Clayton is confident that Bit Flash will be up to some bigger races in the not too distant future.

"I've had Bit Flash since he was four months old and while he didn't break in spectacular every time I've put him around somewhere he's improved, which is what you want to see. I'm in no rush with him and am happy to drag the chain a bit. He's got the makings of a really nice dog.

"I just want to say a big thanks to everyone that helped me and continues to help me after what's happened, especially my partner Vanessa, she's a school teacher and has taken a few months off. She's been outstanding, can't thank her enough and to all my friends that have chipped in and helped, thank you."