Nyquist owner has sights on Derby
Racehorse named after Detroit Red Wings’ forward a Kentucky Derby favourite
Growing up in Windsor, Paul Reddam watched a standardbred racehorse in action that he considers to be comparable in style to Nyquist, the world champion thoroughbred he owns and the early favourite to win the Kentucky Derby, the first leg of the Triple Crown.
“The harness horse that he reminds me of was called Cam Fella,” Reddam said, recalling the legendary pacer campaigned by Belle River’s Pat Crowe. “He would just beat you.”
Many of thoroughbred racing’s experts still aren’t sold on Nyquist, the horse Detroit Red Wings fan Reddam named after Wings forward Gustav Nyquist. They say he isn’t fast enough, or dominant enough.
“Actually, I think that all the wise guys in thoroughbred racing said, ‘Oh, this horse won’t star as a three-year-old. He didn’t run all that fast as a two-year-old,’ ” Reddam said.
No, he doesn’t set world records. No, he’s not romping away from the field. All Nyquist does is win. He did it again in his first start as a three-year-old, maintaining his career unbeaten record with a victory in the Feb. 15 San Vicente Stakes at Santa Anita, improving to 6-0 for his career.
Nyquist took on challenges from Sheikh of Sheiks and Exaggerator, was never headed and won under a hand ride from jockey Mario Gutierrez in 1:20.71, the secondfastest finish since the race was lengthened to seven furlongs in 1955.
“He started from the rail, which is the worst,” Reddam said. “The horse we had to beat was a horse named Exaggerator, who was fourth in the Breeders’ Cup (Juvenile).
“Exaggerator sat outside of Sheik of Sheikhs so as soon as Sheik of Sheikhs was done, he tried to jump on Nyquist and he responded and pulled away.
“We couldn’t have asked for anything more. We were ecstatic and he came out of it no worse for wear.”
The first race of any campaign is a nervous one, but especially when horses go from two to three.
“A lot of two-year-olds who are in the upper echelon as two-yearolds don’t turn the corner as three-year-olds,” Reddam said. “Maybe they were precocious and the others catch up to them.
“Nyquist has blossomed and he has taken the necessary steps forward as a three-year-old. We were told that from his trainer, Doug O’Neill, going into the race, and he would send video clips every time the horse worked, but it’s one of those things where you think things should go a certain way but until they do, 15 different things could go wrong. And nothing went wrong.
“We couldn’t be happier at the present time.”
The critics can say all they want — Reddam and his team are laughing all the way to the bank, and the winner’s circle.
“What people don’t understand about Nyquist is he does just what he has to do, both him and his rider,” Reddam said.
“When the race is won, every race, if you watch it closely, the last part of it he’s eased up at some point because the job is finished.
“They haven’t necessarily been wowed by him because he’s not out there winning by 10 (lengths) but he doesn’t have to. The object is to win and hopefully leave something in the tank for next time.”
“There are human athletes like that. And there are teams like that.
“Somehow, they figure out a way to win.”
Nyquist’s celebrity status has grown as he undertakes his journey toward the May 7 Kentucky Derby. He even has his own Twitter feed @thenyquisthorse.
“I have nothing to do with that,” Reddam laughed.
Yes, Nyquist follows Nyquist. And vice-versa.
“You have to let me know when he races next,” Gustav Nyquist said. “I want to bet on him.”
If all stays on schedule, that will be the April 2 Florida Derby.
“Five weeks from this Saturday,” Reddam said excitedly. “Not that I’m counting.”