The connections of Nobel Heights are a little different to most with a promising stayer on their hands as they have elected to bypass the major spring handicaps.
Having shown staying ability when third in the South Australian Derby in May, it would have been expected Nobel Heights would be among nominations for the Caulfield Cup and Melbourne Cup.
But when entries closed last month, Nobel Heights was not on the lists.
Nobel Heights commences his spring campaign in the MRC Super Box Handicap (1800m) at Sandown on Wednesday with trainer Matt Cumani looking to lesser spring staying options for the four-year-old.
âHeâs a lovely horse and has come on a lot from his last preparation and hopefully heâs ready to take that step from three-year-old grade to open age as a four-year-old,â Cumani said.
âBut we havenât put him in any of the big races this preparation because heâs only got a rating of 69 so weâll take it a step at a time.
âWe hope to have him in a nice race during the carnival, but not one of the majors, so weâll let him take us through and hopefully in the autumn or in the spring of 2022 is when he might be potentially a Cups horse.â
Nobel Heights scored over 1600m at Sandown when resuming in March and while the 1800m on Wednesday might appear a bit of a better trip for a resuming stayer, Cumani is wary.
âItâs one of those tricky distances that could be too short for him,â Cumani said.
âHe could get caught for speed but if they go too slow and they sprint, he might get left flat-footed as heâs a genuine stayer.
âAnd then if heâs asked to do a lot early on, it might prove a bit tough for him being first-up without having a trial or a jump-out, so we need to make sure we ride him cleverly.
âWe need to be positive about the gate and hopefully not lead but then get into open air to get rolling.â
