Albury trainer Brett Cavanough will add classy WA-owned gelding Niblick to his team with a Sydney autumn carnival campaign on the agenda.
Photo by Racing and Sports
Perth businessman Emile Panossian bought the former classy Melbourne winner for $200,000 at last year's annual dispersal sale of horses by Melbourne Cup-winning owner Lloyd Williams.
Panassian placed Niblick with Perth trainer Trevor Andrew for five starts over the summer carnival at Ascot without success, his best effort being a second in the G3 RJ Peters Stakes (1500m) on November 17.
Niblick then finished tenth in the G1 Railway Stakes (1600m) and sixth in the G3 AJ Scahil Stakes (1400m) at his latest start on December 8.
His Perth efforts fell short of his Victorian form where he won six races from 14 starts for Williams including three at Flemington headed by the Listed Sofitel Stakes (1400m) in September of 2011.
He was also placed three times including a third in the G3 Eclipse Stakes (1800m) for his previous trainer Robert Hickmott.
Cavanagh was a bidder on Niblick when the gelding went up for sale last year and is delighted to have the Encosta de Lago six-year-old joining his team.
Panossian and Andrew believed Niblick did not appreciate the firm tracks in Perth, noting that his best form has been on going from dead to heavy.
"The tracks are too firm for him and I don't think he handled the tighter Ascot circuit," Panossian said.
Niblick will be among an impressive list of WA owned and trained horses heading to Melbourne, Adelaide and Sydney in the autumn.
G1 winners Luckygray, Barakey and Mr Moet, upset Perth Cup winner Talent Scout and Darlington Abbey are all slated to race interstate in coming months.
The Dan Morton-trained Born To Excel, an impressive first-up winner at Ascot last Saturday, is in line to join the strong WA contingent heading for interstate campaigns.
Morton, trainer of former Horse of the Year Scenic Blast, has unearthed another classy prospect in Born To Excel, who took his record to four wins and four placings from eight starts with his success last Saturday.
Born To Excel, a top priced $200,000 yearling at the Perth Magic Millions sale in 2010, will have another Perth start before Morton firms up his interstate plans.
Luckygray and the unbeaten Barakey have been named as contenders for the G1 Newmarket Handicap at Flemington in March, Mr Moet is set for wfa races in Melbourne and Sydney and the classy filly Darlington Abbey will target the Kewney Stakes at Flemington in March.
Talent Show's trainer Graeme Ballantyne has confirmed that his mare is in training for a tilt at the $400,000 Adelaide Cup at Morphettville in March.
