New Zealand knights put cup rivals to the sword

The bookmakers cannot see it, but trainer Graeme Nicholson will not be shocked to see his knighted gallopers, Sir Time Keeper and Sir Slick, quinella the Group One A$500,000 (NZ$614,000) Doomben Cup in Brisbane tomorrow.

Sir Time Keeper was knighted by Australian racing authorities this week because another horse in Australia already had the Time Keeper moniker. Sir Slick was given his title by his owners.

While Sir Time Keeper was a A$9 fourth favourite on TAB Sportsbet in Australia yesterday, Sir Slick was the outsider at $51.

Asked about the quinella prospect, Nicholson chuckled and said: "It's on the cards, but you will hear me yelling back in New Zealand if they do."

Both worked well on the Gold Coast yesterday morning.

"They looked very impressive and had the locals asking who they were," he said. "The way they are working will make it a very exciting race."

Both horses were noted front-runners, but Nicholson said Sir Time Keeper was the more likely to lead, especially with his barrier-two draw.

"He will have a very easy passage going to the lead, while Slick will take a little longer to clear them from the outside barrier, but I think he will settle in behind Time Keeper."

The Te Aroha trainer views Sir Time Keeper as the better chance tomorrow, based on his Group One Easter Handicap win at Ellerslie on April 17.

"He was up against some good older horses and just blew them away."

Sir Time Keeper was to have raced in the Rough Habit Plate (2020 metres) at Doomben last Saturday, but Nicholson missed the nomination deadline.

However, the Australian pundits have noticed the winner on protest, The Hombre, was beaten by Sir Time Keeper when they clashed over 2000m at Te Rapa on May 1.

Nicholson stepped up the three-year-old's training work to make up for the bungle.

"I have had to give him a couple of extra pingalongs to compensate and he has thrived, while another trainer, Bruce Hill, said this morning he had never seen Sir Slick looking better," he said.

New Zealand's other chance in the Doomben Cup is the talented mare Ekstreme.NZPA

- © Fairfax NZ News