Trainer Brian Wakefield hopes to gauge Nuptse as a possible Magic Millions contender in January when the four-year-old makes her comeback at Doomben.
Nuptse will line up for her first start since finishing fourth to talented mare Skating On Ice at Doomben in early February in Wednesday’s Ormiston College Handicap (1040m).
The four-year-old is likely to clash for a second time with Patinack Farm’s Found The One who has also been entered for Eagle Farm on Saturday.
Wakefield had hoped Found The One would run on Saturday but Patinack Farm favours the midweek option.
Nuptse, a daughter of Bradbury’s Luck, had a victory over Found The One when successful at Warwick Farm on January 26.
“I took her to Sydney with two others from my stable when we got all that rain during the summer,” Wakefield said.
“She got skittled in her first start when she ran fourth at Canterbury. The leader tried to jump the fence and came back through the field onto her.
“But then she came out and won well at Warwick Farm when Found The One ran third.”
Wakefield had hoped to have Nuptse back in work earlier this campaign so she could be aimed at the recent three-year-old QTIS races.
“She went to the paddock straight after her Warwick Farm win but she didn’t spell right so I sent her back out and gave her more time,” Wakefield said.
“She’s been in work around 12 weeks and she’s been trialling well.”
Wakefield expects a strong performance from Nuptse despite her lack of recent racing.
“I’ve brought her along slowly but she was quite impressive winning a barrier trial at Doomben a fortnight ago,” he said.
“She’ll race very well but I wouldn’t mind seeing Found The One run on Saturday instead of here.
“She’s beaten Found The One before but the Patinack Farm mare has taken a big step up since then.
“My mare has a lot of class and if she goes well I’d like to keep her to some of the better fillies and mares races coming up including the Magic Millions next year.”
Nuptse started her career with Eden Petrie but was transferred to Wakefield before she raced when the former Gold Coast trainer joined Paul Messara as stable foreman.
AAP TURF
