Nolan stable mates in Jewel Clifford Park tilt
RACING: Trainer Michael Nolan has targeted a testing firstup assignment for lightly raced gelding Welcome Nugget when he resumes from a fourmonth break at Clifford Park tomorrow.
Welcome Nugget will be joined by stable mate Spirit’s Pride when they tackle a compact, but quality line-up in the Create With Coffee QTIS Three-Year-Old Handicap (1210m).
The race carries double the standard $10,500 first prize money for QTIS horses while also providing ballot-free entry for the winner, should they be eligible, into next month’s $200,000 QITS Three-Year-Old Jewel at the Gold Coast.
Welcome Nugget was a debut winner at Dalby last September before racking up three successive third placings, including two at Rockhampton, before spelling.
Nolan has targeted this lucrative QTIS money race first up for the Golden Archer gelding but admits tomorrow’s race remains a ‘wait-and-see” assignment for him.
“It’s only a small field but I’m sure what it lacks in numbers it makes up for in quality,” Nolan said.
“Welcome Nugget did everything asked of him last time in.
“After winning first-up at Dalby there wasn’t a lot of QTIS races around for him and Basil (owner Basil Nolan) suggested taking him to Rocky where he raced quite well in QTIS company.
“He’s had a decent spell since and obviously we targeted this race for him first-up.
“His couple of jump-outs have been good and he’s drawn a nice alley.
“He’s not fully wound up so it’s a matter now of how he stacks up fresh against some of these horses with race fitness on their side.
“I’m not overly concerned about 1200 metres first-up with him but Saturday’s race is still a bit of a wait and see with him.
“He’s only small but he makes up for that in determination.”
Skye Bogenhuber rides Welcome Nugget while Shannon Apthorpe partners Spirit’s Pride who Nolan expects to improve on his latest unplaced Warwick effort on January 25.
“Spirit’s Pride’s form is a bit mixed but at Warwick he had a wide gate and had to do too much in the run,” Nolan said.
“But he’s back to Toowoomba this week with an inside alley and I’m expecting a lot better run from him. He’s better than his Warwick effort.”
■ LIGHTLY raced Toowoomba sprinter Spur craft is on trial for a possible Sydney Autumn Carnival tilt when he tackles tomorrow’s Open Handicap (1110m) at Doomben.
Trainer Charlotte White has pencilled in a possible Group Two Challenge Stakes (1000m) start next month at Randwick for the five-year-old if he is successful tomorrow.
‘‘ HE’S ONLY SMALL BUT HE MAKES UP FOR THAT IN DETERMINATION.
MICHAEL NOLAN