Trainer Kerry Parker has had a frustrating run of setbacks with progressive gelding Nextanix and is hoping his fortunes have finally turned.
The lightly-raced four-year-old will step out in the Sharp Handicap (1600m) at Randwick on Saturday, the final meeting at the track before it is shut down for major reconstructive work.
Nextanix showed promise as a three-year-old and was fifth to the ill-fated Lion Tamer in the Listed Ming Dynasty last spring.
But he was struck down by a nasty bug while spelling and missed the autumn carnival.
Resuming in July, he easily won his maiden at Kembla Grange before a fourth to Valdhez at Rosehill and fast-finishing second to Altius at the same venue.
Just as Parker started looking towards the spring, bad luck struck again.
“He came up with a bit of a temperature and I had to put him out to get over it,” Parker said.
“He got really crook in the paddock a year ago so I wasn’t going to take any risks with him.”
Nextanix returned last month and broke his city duck with a strong win over 1400m on Randwick’s Kensington track.
As is his usual racing pattern, he settled towards the tail and roared home.
Parker’s only concern this weekend is that the race is run at a genuine tempo to allow Nextanix to unleash his big finish.
“He ran terrific, it was good to get a result,” Parker said of the Kensington track win.
“He’s going to get back. He doesn’t show a lot of early speed, he never has.
“All in all I’m happy with him, he’s one hundred per cent but race tempo is what can go against him.”
Parker has no grand plans for Nextanix this preparation but is keen to build the foundations for his future.
He is hoping to test him over ground and believes he will eventually run 2000, even 2400, metres.
“I think the further he goes the better he will be,” parker said.
“What this preparation is about is teaching him to be a racehorse.”
Parker is also hoping for a change of luck with stakes performer Brilliant Light who will resume in the Listed Skin Fitness Ladies Day Cup (1300m) at Thursday’s Hawkesbury Cup meeting.
Third in the 2010 Doncaster Mile, Brilliant Light’s best performance in nine runs since was a fourth in the Group Two Ajax Stakes (1500m) in March.
Wide gates and niggling problems have underlined that period but Parker says Brilliant Light heads into Thursday in good shape.
“He is sound and well and I’m happy with him,” Parker said.
“But he’s got to produce on race day.
“I thought if I put him on a Villiers campaign, he misses the A-graders in the spring and we can just try to get his confidence back and get him winning again.”
AAP TURF
