Nictock eyeing off Saturday grade after strong win

Tom Baddock - Wednesday August 23

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.

Advertisement
Cameron Crockett's Nictock.

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).

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.

Advertisment
More Reading...
Pedigree Watch - Powerhouse Godolphin 3YOs Dominate
The current crop of three year-olds running for Godolphin lay claim to being the best they have ever produced in Australia and three of those colts won Group races in Australia on Saturday so let’s take a look at those pedigrees.
Yes Yes Yes 3YO Shooting for G2 on Monday
Last year’s Gr.2 James and Annie Sarten Memorial (1400m) set Savaglee up for Group One glory in Christchurch, and Matamata trainer Pam Gerard is hoping to follow a similar blueprint in 2025 with her Yes Yes Yes 3YO Affirmative Action..
Rising country star conquers Canterbury
Mudgee galloper Nictock enhanced his imposing record to five from six when winning the All Too Hard @ Vinery Handicap (1100m) at Canterbury on Wednesday.
Cream Rises at Trentham
A half-sister by Hello Youmzain (Fr) to dual Group I winner Mustang Valley, exciting filly Cream Tart is set to line up in one of the major three-year-old races over New Zealand Cup Week following her impressive win in Sunday’s Upper Hutt Car Sales LTD Three-Year-Old (1400m) at Trentham.
Doubtland 2YO All On Red Smashes Them Again at Ascot
Widden Stud's Doubtland has a potential 2YO topliner in Perth in the shape of exciting WA colt All On Red, who remains undefeated from two starts after another comprehensive Ascot Saturday win.
Hi Yo Sass Bomb Wins G3 on Sunday
Kim Reid bypassed a Group One in favour of Sunday’s Gr.3 Gee and Hickton Funeral Directors Thompson Handicap (1600m) at Trentham with Hi Yo Sass Bomb, a decision that paid dividends when the mare led from the outset to claim her third stakes success.
Wootton Bassett Colt Leads Coolmore G1 Trifecta
The last British Group I race of the flat season was run overnight at Doncaster with Aidan O’Brien producing a trifecta of two year-old colts led by a son of the late Wootton Bassett (GB) in Hawk Mountain, who was too good for a pair of Frankel colts.
Transatlantic Takes $1million Five Diamonds Prelude
Transatlantic’s lucrative spring carnival continued at Randwick with an arrogant victory in the $1m Five Diamonds Prelude.
Sale Cup Winner Adds to Fastnet Rock Super Weekend
It’s been quite the weekend for the late great champion sire Fastnet Rock with a Cox Plate quinella on Saturday and then on Sunday he produced a new stakes-winner when seven year-old gelding El Rocko captured the $200,000 Listed Sale Cup (1600m).
Sires With Winners - Saturday October 25
Here is the full list of 136 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.