BIT Flash will by-pass Saturday night's heats of the Ladbrokes Cyril Rowe Bulli Gold Cup despite his brilliant victory over outstanding speedster Cee Jay's Boy at the South Coast course last Saturday night.
The Michael Clayton-trained Bit Flash led throughout to defeat Cee Jay's Boy, who secured a clear rails run after missing the jump, stopping the clock at an impressive 26.37sec for the 472m.
"Instead of the Bulli Cup I plan to take him to Temora for the Cup heats there on March 2,'' Bit Flash's trainer Clayton said.
"Temora is a three hours' drive from my place but I intend trialling Bit Flash a couple of Times there before the Cup gets under way.
"To start an inexperienced young dog like Bit Flash in the Bulli Cup would be like throwing him to the wolves because he would be taking on far more seasoned one-turn specialists.
"The dog's owner Trevor Rhodes has also purchased a ticket for the Launching Pad series which begins at Melbourne's Sandown Park on April 4.
"Bit Flash will be that much older and wiser by the Time the Sandown event starts.''
Bit Flash has now had four wins and a second from only five races, all at Bulli over 400m and 472m.
Also missing from this week's Bulli Cup heats will be Cee Jay's Boy, who badly bruised a toe when chasing home Bit Flash last Saturday.
"He bunged it up but it is not a serious setback and Cee Jay's Boy should be back in action in three weeks' Time,'' trainer Ron Marsden said.
xxxx
Marbo's Magic, the 2016 Maitland Gold Cup winner, continues to defy father Time, notching his 33rd win at Dubbo on Sunday.
The Paul Braddon-trained veteran, who turns five in April, came from midfield to run down Meek's Girl, prepared by Braddon's wife Pam, for a neck victory.
Marbo's Magic is now unbeaten in two starts since a spell and could be headed for another Maitland Cup tilt in mid-March.
xxxx
DREAMING Time capped a remarkable comeback to record her third Wentworth Park win on Saturday night, easily taking out a 520m fifth grade in 30.02sec.
Those figures were a mere .07sec outside the Ron Lambert-trained bitch's personal best at headquarters but are entitled to be ranked as her finest performance, as she has returned to racing after 'dropping' a hind leg muscle, a career threatening injury.
Ted Cisczewski, who shares ownership of Dreaming Time with Lambert, said they plan to race their greyhound only until she comes in season, when she will be retired to the breeding barn.
xxxx
MERLE Clarke, who trained four winners at Dubbo in late December, landed the trifecta in a 318m fifth grade at the same course last Sunday with Yarradool, Timely Wish and Little Wiggles.
Nothing extraordinary in that except that Merle is 80 years old and not only trains but breeds, rears and whelps greyhounds on her property near Gilgandra.
"I have had greyhounds for over 40 years and currently have around 140 at home,'' Clarke said.
"I don't race in Sydney these days because the drive is too long and the last winner I had at Wentworth Park would have been Half Mast, who won a maiden there around 15 years ago.''
