Bryan Guy enjoys the Gold Coast lifestyle and he thinks it’s had a positive effect on Novikov.
Heavily backed to start a $1.70 favourite, Novikov set a class record at his first start in more than a year when he won the Programmed Property Services Handicap (1200m) at Doomben on Wednesday.
The gelding began his career in Hong Kong with John Moore but was transferred to Guy after failing to live up to a high rating placed on him by champion jockey Darren Beadman.
“Darren told John he thought was a Group horse but he just wouldn’t settle in up there,” Guy said.
“His condition fell away and he wouldn’t eat so they thought he might be better suited here.”
After a successful training career based at Rosehill, Guy moved to the Gold Coast more than a decade ago.
“I love the Coast and the lifestyle’s been good for this horse as well,” he said.
“I think he’s a top-class horse – that’s how much ability he’s shown me.”
As well as the relaxed lifestyle at the Coast, Guy believes adding ear muffs to the gelding has also been beneficial.
“He was really stirry at the track so I threw ear muffs on to settle him down and it changed him completely,” he said.
Meanwhile, Smasher delivered on some high expectations when he won his first start as a $1.30 favourite.
The three-year-old’s ability had been heavily spruiked after he defeated Sizzling in a jump out before that colt won the Gold Edition Plate at Eagle Farm last month.
“From day one I knew he was a horse with enormous potential but it’s never easy for a debutant on a hot, windy day and history tells us they don’t win from the outside barrier at the 1110-metre start at Doomben,” trainer Robert Heathcote said.
“He got a bit lost and will probably be a blinker horse in time but it was a very encouraging debut.”
Jockey Michael Cahill said the key to Smasher’s win was being able to give the gelding a breather mid-race once he crossed to the lead at the 800m turn.
