Last-start stakes winner Niccanova faces a 400 metre drop in distance at Eagle Farm but trainer Steve Tregea believes he is the type of horse to handle it.
Niccanova maintained Tregea’s outstanding record in Brisbane summer features when he took out the Listed Brisbane Handicap (1600m) at Doomben two weeks ago.
Tregea has elected to start him in Saturday’s Listed Falvelon Quality (1200m) a wild card race for the Magic Millions Snippets on January 11.
But the wild card is not the reason Tregea has elected to run Niccanova.
“Niccanova is not a Magic Millions horse and would need a wild card. But his main aim this summer will be the Bernborough Handicap over 1600 metres at Eagle Farm in a fortnight,” Tregea said.
“I have been caught with him before when I thought it would be OK to have three weeks between his runs.
“On the other hand he has backed up on occasions and won. So going 1600 to 1200 to 1600 metres should be no problem.
“There is a lot of pace in the Falvelon and he will be strong at the finish. Anything is possible in racing.”
Tregea said Saturday’s race would also give Niccanova another look at Eagle Farm before the Bernborough.
“He is getting to the stage where he might get weighted out of Queensland racing but he is still competitive here,” Tregea said.
