Olive ready to Conquer
August 14, 2012 12:44:55 UK
Leading Canberra trainer Nick Olive has no fears of venturing into unchartered waters with his improving galloper The Conqueror, when he runs in tomorrow's Bowmerman's Office Furniture Handicap (1900m) at Canterbury.
The Conqueror will race beyond a mile for the first time in his career and Olive remains hopeful he can prove effective over the staying trips.
"I couldn't be happier with how the horse is going but he's definitely on trial at the trip," Olive said.
"We've always had it in the back of our minds to try him over further but we don't really know whether or not he'll see it out.
At his last two starts over the mile he's been really strong at the line, so you would like to think he can run out the trip.
Nick Olive
"At his last two starts over the mile he's been really strong at the line, so you would like to think he can run out the trip."
The son of Domesday has won two of his four starts this campaign and appears well placed to collect his first metropolitan win following his fourth placing in Saturday company last start.
"I thought he went great, I feel he raced as good as he could,' Olive said.
"He was probably just a touch outclassed, they seemed to just sprint a bit too quick for him over the mile."
The event has since proven quite a good form race with the John O'Shea trained Henricus proving too strong when he dropped back to mid-week company last Wednesday at Newcastle.
Experienced jockey Brendan Ward will make the trip up to Sydney to continue his association with the horse having ridden him to all his career wins.
"He has a great relationship and has had a lot of success with the horse in the past, so it only seems fit to keep him on board," Olive said.
With the Canterbury surface currently rated a good 3, Olive said he is looking forward to racing the gelding back on firmer footing.
"He has raced well on wet tracks this time in but I feel he will appreciate getting back on a dry track on Wednesday,' Olive said.
Having placed at his half career starts, Olive will wait and see how he performs tomorrow before setting future plans in concrete.
"At the moment we're just going to take it how it comes," Olive said.
"It all depends on how he performs on Wednesday before we can start mapping out his next couple of runs.
"If he can run the trip out effectively, then I do feel he could be up to Saturday class in those staying events in the future."
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