Quake shock for trainer
Grant Nicholson experienced firsthand the force of this week’s massive earthquake.
The Opaki horseman was on his way home from New Zealand Cup and Show Week when he got the fright of his life.
‘‘We left Christchurch at 7.30 on Sunday evening for the 2 o’clock ferry and the locals told us later that we were the last vehicle to get through,’’ Nicholson said.
‘‘We were about halfway between Kaikoura and Blenheim when it hit – I thought the truck was going to tip over.
‘‘The road was rolling towards us and the sky in front of us lit up. Apparently, that was the energy released from the earthquake. Everything was rocking and rolling, scary stuff.’’ Nicholson said his horses came through unscathed and he was more than happy with Nymph Monte’s Riccarton performances, despite missing out on his major goal.
The Tavistock five-year-old claimed the Listed double of the Spring Classic and the Metropolitan Trophy Handicap to earn favouritism in last Saturday’s Cup.
Nymph Monte finished fifth behind Pump Up The Volume with an effort that Nicholson said he was proud of.
‘‘Certainly, the rain didn’t help and he didn’t help himself either. When he jumped he banged into another horse and he over-raced after that, but he pulled up really well.
‘‘If he had dropped out then I wouldn’t have bagged the horse, but he fought on well and I thought it was a top effort.’’ ooking ahead, Nicholson now has the choice between two Ellerslie options for Nymph Monte.
‘‘I’ll get him home and then decide but it will either be the City of Auckland Cup or the Zabeel Classic,’’ he said.
Rising staying star Megablast is thriving ahead of the sternest challenge of his brief career.
The five-year-old has thrilled trainer Nigel Tiley with his progress toward the Counties Cup on his home track at Pukekohe Park on Saturday.
Megablast has a near impeccable record for his trainer with two wins and a second since joining his team and the gelding has done particularly well since his most recent runaway success at Trentham.
‘‘He had a couple of days in the paddock after Wellington and then he spent some time at the beach before he came back to the stable,’’ Tiley said.
He will be surprised if the son of Shinko King doesn’t give another bold account of himself at the weekend.
‘‘He’s a very progressive horse and he gets in very well at the weights for the cup,’’ Tiley said. ‘‘I’m hoping the rain stays around for a little bit longer as well.’’
Megablast won four of his 11 starts for Wanganui trainer Kevin Myers before he transferred to Tiley’s operation.
He cruised to victory at Ellerslie in his first appearance from his new quarters, he finished second to Pacorus in his open class debut in the Mitchelson Cup and then accounted for his former stablemate Zentangle at Trentham last time out.
Meanwhile, another hot prospect in the Tiley stable is building up for his return to racing.
Bao Shan Magic has had two wins and two seconds from his four appearances and he has had an easy time since he came back from a three month break to finish runner-up at Ellerslie in September.
‘‘He had a tough run first-up on a heavy track,’’ Tiley said. ‘‘We’ve freshened him and he’ll be ready to race in a couple of weeks.’’