Kerry Parker expects another rise in distance to be a help and not a hindrance to Nextanix in Saturday’s Listed Christmas Cup at Rosehill.
“He’s always just been a horse that we thought would get better as he got over further,” Parker said.
“He just keeps finding the line and hopefully on Saturday he gets to the right distance and he finds the line again – and finds the line in front this time.”
Nextanix has won just two of his 14 starts with another five placings and steps up to 2400m for the first time in the $100,000 feature.
His first attempt at 2000m was at Rosehill last Saturday when the four-year-old son of Domesday came in a length behind the progressive Revolt.
“He has come through Saturday’s race as good as gold. He’s happy as Larry,” Parker, who trains Nextanix at Kembla Grange, said.
“I thought it was a terrific effort on Saturday, I thought he raced really well and he’s learned a lot this preparation.
“It’s the turn of foot that beats him. He’s a real grinder and takes a long time to wind up and then he just keeps coming. The winner had too much acceleration for him but he had every chance.”
Nine of the 15 Christmas Cup nominations, including Nextanix, have the limit weight of 53kg with 2009 Summer Cup winner Solid Billing and the Chris Waller-trained Strike One equal topweights with 58kg.
Peter Snowden has Group One winner Erewhon and stakeswinner Yulalona among the nominations with Erewhon given 56kg and Yulalona 53.5kg.
Scouting Wide, who won the Christmas Cup two years ago, has 56.5kg.
The Tim Martin-trained Scouting Wide lumped 63kg in the same 2000m race as Nextanix last Saturday and came from the tail of the field to finish 3-1/2 lengths from the winner.
Parker said all going well Nextanix would progress to the Group Three Summer Cup (2400m) at Rosehill on Boxing Day after the Christmas Cup.
AAP TURF
