Pic: The Bettor Deal (inside) and Five Crowns at work on Saturday.
The Bettor Deal keeps taking the next step for owner Steve Thompson and Nathan was impressed with his trial at Rangiora on Wednesday.
The Woodlands Stud product ran second to the already qualified Ruby Tuesday to gain his raceday ticket in just oover 2.31.
“The winner was clear but our guy ran very good sectionals for what he has done” Nathan said.
“I might just give him another trial but he is a little bit of surprise among the young ones the way he keeps taking the next step.”
Out of Ideal Belle whose products to date have been useful rather than brilliant,The Bettor Deal is one of those always encouraging youngsters-the ones who go on improving.
Meanwhile Major Hot runs in the South East Derby at Brisbane on Saturday night -but not under All Star colours.
The three year old will be with David and Stacey White for the remainder of his Brisbane programme and Nathan expects a big run from him this weekend.
“Clearly unlucky in his first up run,just didn’t get a go until it was all over. But we are down to one horse over there now as Treacherous Love is headed home so we can’t really justify someone over there with all that is going on here.He has done the leadup and has gone on from his debut over there so with luck he can make the breakthrough this week”
The Queensland Derby is the main aim of the mission and Major Hot leapt into all calculations with hsi first up effort.
“I’ve always thought a bit of him as you know and I feel he is really coming to his best now”