Niccanova primed for belated carnival tilt
‘‘ HE’S HAD A COUPLE OF JUMP OUTS AND FITNESS-WISE HE’S AS GOOD AS I COULD HOPE FOR AT THIS STAGE. STEVE TREGEA
Photo: NOEL PASCOE/RACING QUEENSLAND
RACING: It’s full steam ahead for talented Toowoomba fouryear-old Niccanova as he prepares for his belated Queensland Winter Carnival debut on Saturday.
Trainer Steve Tregea yesterday confirmed Niccanova was “ready to go” for his Listed Glasshouse Handicap (1400m) assignment at Corbould Park.
It will be the gelding’s first start since resuming with a Doomben Open Handicap victory over 1350 metres in March.
That bold first-up win was Niccanova’s fifth from only seven starts and had him on the verge of an ambitious campaign — including the Doncaster Handicap — before minor injury setbacks forced Tregea to pull the plug on his autumn and early winter plans.
“He had a couple of minor injuries,” Tregea said.
“It was more the timing of them right on the eve of the carnivals that was the major problem with him.”
Niccanova has drawn barrier 21 for his comeback on what is shaping as a possible heavy Caloundra track come Saturday.
But Tregea will push ahead with a start regardless of the despised draw.
“He’ll definitely run — he’s ready to go,” Tregea said.
“He had six weeks off after his first-up win last time and I couldn’t be happier with how he’s going at present.
“Everything has gone smoothly to this point.
“He’s had a couple of jump outs and fitness-wise he’s as good as I could hope for at this stage.
“There are a few variables now with him in going in firstup over 1400 metres on a track that’s a heavy eight today and drawing barrier 21.
“But he won first-up over 1350 metres last time, he’s handled wet tracks in the past and if the track does cut up on the day, being out wide might be the place to be.”
Tregea hopes to gain a guide on Niccanova’s immediate future from Saturday’s return effort.
“There’s a bit of hype around him and depending on how things pan out on Saturday we might head north to Rocky with him while going south is also an option,” Tregea said.
Tregea’s Saturday Caloundra team also includes Prioritise and Bergerac.
Prioritise is due to start in the Winter Provincial Sprinters Series Final Benchmark 80 Handicap (1200m) while Bergerac will continue on a Rockhampton Cup path in the Benchmark 85 Handicap (1600m) or at Clifford Park on Sunday.
“I’ll make a final decision on Bergerac closer to race time but there’s a possibility he may even run at home here on Sunday,” Tregea said.
“He doesn’t have to run before the Cup the following week but a Clifford Park start is an option if Caloundra finishes up too heavy.
“It’s an unsuitable race here over 1000 metres with 62.5kg but it’s there for him if we want to go that way.”