Popular Myers gallopers retired

Two popular members of Kevin Myers’ stable in Aljay and Verry Flash are heading for a well-earned retirement following successful careers with combined earnings of nearly $1 million.

The Wanganui horseman purchased Aljay for $39,000 at New Zealand Bloodstock’s Ready To Run Sale in 2019, having prepared his star half-brother Tallyho Twinkletoe to win a Grand National Hurdles (4200m), and played a large role in his successes in the Australian Grand National Hurdle (4200m) and Steeplechase (4500m).

While his sibling thrived over fences, Aljay was just as proficient on the flat, winning 10 of his 50 starts, including the Gr.3 New Zealand Cup (3200m) and last year’s Listed Spring Classic (2000m).

The son of Rock ‘N’ Pop also placed in the Listed Metropolitan Trophy (2600m) for three consecutive years and was runner-up in a Listed Rotorua Cup (2200m), bowing out with $543,437 in earnings for Myers and co-owner Charlie Gestro.

Aljay’s early New Zealand Cup success and consistency often told in the weight scale, which made retirement an easy call for Myers.

“He was always topweight in the handicaps, four or five kilos heavier than the rest, so he was often a kids (apprentice jockey) horse,” Myers said. “It was an easier decision to retire both him and Flash while they are sound.

“I considered it (jumps racing) with Aljay, but he wasn’t a natural jumper and he’s done pretty well on the flat.

“He can go and enjoy life, he’ll retire here on the farm with Scapolo. They’ll have a paddock of their own.”

Verry Flash fashioned a similarly impressive record in his racing career, which started in the care of co-owner Nick Bishara.

While he may not have quite reached the phenomenal heights of his full-sister and Gr.1 Melbourne Cup (3200m) heroine Verry Elleegant, Verry Flash won 11 races on the flat, including a Taumarunui Gold Cup (2200m), and after joining Myers, a Listed Rangitikei Gold Cup (1600m).

He was particularly efficient in heavy track conditions, placing in two editions of the Gr.3 Winter Cup (1600m), and Myers added another string to the gelding’s bow when presenting him as a jumper.

Verry Flash added a further four victories to his record over hurdles, and in his first and only attempt over the steeplechase fences at Hawera in late August, he was successful, and Myers decided that was the perfect note to finish on.

“Flash was a good horse, he won his last start so I thought he could retire on that,” he said. “I thought about going to the Jericho, but he’s 11-years-old now and has done a good job.

“He came here later in his career, but he kept running well on the flat right up to his last start.

“Flash will go to Rowena Smyth, she used to ride him early on and he can go hunting. They’ll both have a nice home and they deserve that.”

Verry Flash was bred by the late Don Goodwin, who raced him alongside Bishara.