Nathan came away from the Rangiora trials with a gleam in his eye on Wednesday after DON’T STOP DREAMING stormed home in an easy 2000 heat the key to which was a closing 800 in 56.1.Nathan had a close up view,driving the winner MOMENTS LIKE THIS whom “Darci”and Blair trailed throughout untilthe last 50m.
“He’s in a good place. He will have another trial and we are looking at a race for him on the 18th (2600 special conditions) not a major,tt but will set him up for Ashburton in the Flying Stakes. After that we will decide the next step but I would be reluctant to line him up at Kaikoura so soon after Ashburton.It just depends on him really but I am happy with how he’s going”
Nathan is facing some restrictive barrier draws with the team at Addington but the one who has drawn best,ARDEN’S MEMORY,is one he thinks is odds value.
“I was surprised they opened her at 7’s. I thought in that field 4’s would have been about right so she offers good odds.Last start winner and trained on well”
Arden’s Memory took on Group One company in Auckland at two breaking when handily placed approaching the 800 and losing her chance.She has won both her starts this time in.
Two year olds DEMON BLUE and FIVE CROWNS have “the iron fence” area gates in the two year old and Nathan wants to stay out of any predictions about who beats who.
“There’s not a lot between them so it is the trip that will count most.”
He concedes he was disappointed by Demon Blue’s run in the Oamaru Juvenile Stakes.
“He didn’t have all the favours but I had expected him to run on better than he did” said Nathan of the Art Major youngster who was in good form in the north earlier in the year.
“But his work has picked up quite a lot since and he will go much better I think. FIVE CROWNS had his problems in the running at Oamaru too but did well. Both are a force but the gates could be better.
The Telfer’s have 4 drawn inside us and are unlikely to be doing us any favours early.Five Crowns is the one that may kick out hardest and test the waters”
Sam Thornley retains the drive on Five Crowns.
MR KAPLAN has a wide gate in a small field late in the night and is rated the stable best hope.
“She used her gate speed to lead last time and got home well so that will probably be the tactic again”
Meanwhile SHERLOCK seems bound for export to the US after final tests late in the week Nathan is confident he will pass.
“They know about his background (wind operation) and that’s ok. His problem here is that most of the races for him are distance events and he is best kept to sprint trips. He will suit tracks like Yonkers.”
Greg Sugars,Jean,Sherlock and Nathan after Melbourne win
Sherlock won over $150,000 and had only one start back this prep.He won heats of the Vicbred and Victoria Derby and was highly favoured in both finals only to have to scratch from the Vicbred Final and disappoint over 2760 in the Derby final when again well backed.He won 8 races for Jean Feiss from just 17 starts and on the potential he showed is probably a sharp buy for mile racing. He put up some outstanding performances against top opposition.
In other news OSCAR BONAVENA is due to arrive next Thursday and Mark will fly south to drive him at Addington remaining for another week,and returning after a brief trip north for the business end of Cup meeting preparations.