Nymph Monte ready for group glory
NYMPH Monte was successful at stakes level last season and the six-year-old in search of higher honours this preparation.
The Listed Metropolitan Trophy Handicap winner took a step closer to a new campaign at Waverley on Tuesday when it finished a respectable third in an open 1000m heat.
Part-owner and trainer Grant Nicholson said the horse was held together nicely throughout the run.
“It brought him on again and he did it all under his own steam,” Grant Nicholson said.
“He’ll trial again on August 22 at Foxton and then head to Hastings. At this stage, he will run on the first day in the open mile and then into the open 2000m handicap on the second day before the Livamol Classic.
“He’s a pretty clean-winded horse and two runs should have him right for the Group One. We just hope the tracks will be good for him.”
Elsewhere in the Nicholson stable, the Tavistock gelding’s half-brother Artaxerxes will resume in the Big Barrel 1200 at Woodville on Thursday. The galloper has a win and two placings from five appearances.
“We’re very happy with him and while we would prefer a loose track rather than sticky, they tell me there is a beautiful sole of grass at Woodville so that will suit him,” Nicholson said.
Also set to make its seasonal debut at the meeting in the Central Wool Transport 1200 is the three-year-old Reliably Perky.
Artaxerxes made four appearances as a two-year-old, with a pair of fifth placings the best results the horse had recorded.
The trainer expects the horse’s best best efforts to come as a three-year-old as the horse begins to step up in distance.
“The more ground the better for her, but this is a nice starting point,” Nicholson said.
“We think a bit of the filly and, like most Reliable Mans, she’s going to need further to show what she can do.”