Nicholas Bishara is brimming with enthusiasm after Bold Bourbon's debut win at Matamata on Wednesday.
The South Auckland horseman hasn't been as excited about a three-year-old since multiple Group One winner Verry Elleegant, and while he doesn't believe the gelding is in the same tier as his stable predecessor, he said Bold Bourbon has spades of potential.
“He is a super horse,” Bishara said.
“I don't want to get carried away because it is only a maiden on a Wednesday at Matamata, but I think he could be a Derby horse.
“He is not Verry Elleegant but he has got a lot of potential, so I am thrilled to bits. His temperament is superb, he is a lovely horse.”
Like Verry Elleegant, Bold Bourbon is a product of Grangewilliam Stud, being by resident stallion The Bold One, and Bishara is starting to develop a strong association with the South Taranaki farm.
“I have got three The Bold Ones and I have sold one to Hong Kong already,” he said.
“I have got a huge opinion of The Bold One and Zed, and I have got a couple of Derryn's I like. It is a marriage made in heaven at the moment.”
While Bishara has big aspirations for Bold Bourbon, he said the COVID-19 lockdown put a halt to his initial stakes target.
“We haven't worked a path out for him yet,” he said. “We wanted to go to Matamata last Sunday and I was going to back him up in the Wanganui Guineas (Listed, 1340m), but when COVID-19 shut things down, the Wanganui Guineas plans were shelved.
“We have just got to sit down and replan.”
While Bishara wasn't able to be trackside himself on Wednesday due to Auckland still being under COVID-19 Alert Level 4 restrictions, he was appreciative of Cambridge horseman Shaun Phelan for helping him out.
Bishara will once again be calling on the assistance of a Waikato-based trainer this weekend, with runners at Te Rapa on Saturday and Te Aroha on Sunday.
“I am very thankful to Shaun Phelan for saddling him up, I have still got to figure out who can saddle mine on Saturday and I have got two in on Sunday,” Bishara said.
Bishara is particularly looking forward to Daytona Red and Cherry Lane contesting the Become A Te Aroha Member 1600 on Sunday.
“Daytona Red is flying and if the track improves that will be great, and Cherry Lane worked the house down this morning,” he said.
A day prior, stablemates Rising Steps and Spiderbait will contest the Valachi Downs Selling Only At Karaka 2022 Mile (1600m), while last start placegetter Rising Ransom will line-up in the Savile Row 2100.