Mudgee trainer Cameron Crockett is hoping stable star Nictock can provide him with his first Saturday metropolitan win after the gelding took his record to six wins from seven starts at Warwick Farm on Wednesday.
Nictock was heavily supported in betting to take out the Schweppes Benchmark 70 Handicap (1000m) and looked to be the only leader on paper, firming into a $1.60 favourite by start time.
The gelding was slow to begin but quickly mustered to lead the small field comfortably.
The four-year-old appeared under the siege at the top of the straight before edging clear late to win by half-a-length to Joe Pride's Realise Potential ($3.70), with a further head back to Greg Hickman's Phoebe's Lass ($16).
Nictock brings up his third victory in a row and makes it 6 wins from 7 starts in the first leg of the quaddie at #WarwickFarm. pic.twitter.com/IrAy4cy2HB
— Sky Racing (@SkyRacingAU) August 23, 2017
The up-and-coming trainer has now tasted mid-week success with Nictock at his past two starts and believes the consistent gelding now deserves his shot at the higher level.
"I think he deserves a crack at Saturday level now but I'll just decide whether to give him a break," Crockett said.
"There is a lot of races coming up over 1400m for the country horses and as tempting as it is I'm going to play to his strengths, look after the horse and do the right thing and just keep whacking away like he is.
"When I saw Joe Pride's horse looming up on the outside I thought I might have left him a bit long in the paddock after his last run but he found.
"A horse came at him the same way at Wellington at his second start and I thought he was gone for all money but he does a funny thing, he turns his head to the side and seems to really want to lift.
"He has been fantastic. Probably when he ran third at Randwick he wasn't ideally placed on the heavy track first-up, which is not his fault. He should probably have a clean record really."
Hugh Bowman was also full of praise for Nictock's attitude and believes this holds the horse in good stead for future success.
"He gave me a really good feel when he won at Canterbury, he did have things go his way admittedly but you can't fault his record," Bowman said.
"He's a horse that makes his own luck and although he'd probably more effective over a little further he's got so much speed and he's so competitive too. He's so honest and lovely to ride.
"Cameron has done a great job with him and he's going to win plenty of races yet."
Crockett indicated he would be looking to step the horse out over 1100m next start and believes a track like Rosehill would suit the gelding's racing style.
