Memories of the late Group One-winning trainer Kelso Wood will be revived when Nikitas returns to his favourite track at Doomben.
The now five-year-old Nikitas won his first start as a two-year-old at Doomben in December 2015 and went on to be one of Queensland’s best juveniles when trained by Wood.
Wood died last month after a long battle with illness which had forced him to close his Eagle Farm stables in May.
Nikitas is one of three horses trained by Wood who are now with Chris Munce at Eagle Farm.
“Nikitas and the other two are owned by David Devine and Neville Morgan who were a long-time client of Kelso’s,” Munce said.
“I rode a lot of winners for them including a Group One on Sizzling (in the JJ Atkins) so it was honour to get these horses and it would be a nice tribute to Kelso to win on Saturday.”
Nikitas ran second in the 2016 Magic Millions 2YO Classic and had a stint with Darren Weir in Victoria where he ran well in some stakes races.
He won at Warrnambool, Caulfield and in Adelaide before being sent back north earlier this year.
“We have given him a couple of trials and then a 900-metre race at the Gold Coast which was too short for him,’ Munce said.
Munce is watching the weather with Nikitas and his other Doomben runners with a wet track assured on Saturday.
