Nextanix has resumed from a spell in good order, running on well to grab second behind Kontiki Park at Rosehill last Saturday.
Photo by Racing and Sports
The Kerry Parker trained galloper hit the line strongly and will appreciate the step up in distance as he makes his way towards the Group 1 The Metropolitan in October.
“I was pretty confident he would run well as he has when first up in the past, although in saying that they were maiden and restricted races,” Parker told Radio Sports National.
“He seemed to be going well and was in the race and it was just a matter of luck in running and he did what he usually does and ran second,” he added.
The five-year-old gelding has only managed the two wins in 22 starts but has placed a further nine times and has amassed $191,000 in prizemoney after fetching only $8000 at the yearling sales.
“He has taken plenty of time to really mature into himself and each preparation now he is going out and coming back a lot stronger through the body and I think that is helping him.
“He will head on towards The Metropolitan and will go around in the Premiers Cup over 1800m in a fortnights time and then will work out if we go to the Newcastle Cups and races like that but his main aim will be the metropolitan then we will decide if we go south or not.”
Nextanix has had plenty of problems in the past and remains only lightly raced, showing he is capable of mixing it in group 1 company when running fourth in the Sydney Cup during the autumn.
“He sort of missed out on his three-year-old career and got really crook in the paddock and we nearly lost him so that kept him out of play for a while and since then we have just taken slow steps until his first full preparation when we were able to get him into the Sydney Cup.”
Stablemate Aliyana Tilde who ran a narrow second to Streama in the Australian Oaks at Randwick in the autumn will resume in the Toy Show Quality (1300m) at Warwick Farm on Saturday with Parker leaving her preparation open.
“She is going good and coming along well and we will keep her in the fillies and mares races until we have to and then figure out if she is sharp enough for the Epsom or she will be heading along the metropolitan as well as well.
“I would love to have both of these horses in Melbourne but will have to work it out as we go
