Racing: Time Keeper eyes $500,000 Cup

The bookmakers can't see it, but Te Aroha trainer Graeme Nicholson wouldn't be shocked to see his knighted gallopers, Sir Time Keeper and Sir Slick, quinella the group one $500,000 Doomben Cup today.

Sir Time Keeper was knighted by Australian racing authorities this week, because another horse in Australia already had the Time Keeper moniker. Sir Slick was given his title by his owners as a young horse.

While Sir Time Keeper was a $9 fourth favourite on TAB Sportsbet in Australia on Thursday, Sir Slick was the outsider at $51.

Asked about the quinella prospect, Nicholson chuckled and said: "It's on the cards, but you will hear me yelling back in New Zealand if they do."

Both worked well at the Gold Coast on Thursday.

"They looked very impressive and had the locals asking who they were. The way they are working will make it a very exciting race."

Both horses are noted front runners, but Nicholson said that Sir Time Keeper was the more likely to lead, especially with his draw of barrier two.

"He will have a very easy passage going to the lead, while Slick will take a little longer to clear them from the outside barrier, but I think he will settle in behind Time Keeper."

The veteran trainer does prefer Sir Time Keeper as the better chance, on the basis of his strong win in the Easter Handicap at Ellerslie on April 17.

"He was up against some good older horses and just blew them away."

Sir Time Keeper was to have raced in the Rough Habit Plate (2020m) at Doomben last Saturday, but Nicholson missed the nomination deadline.

However, the Australian pundits have noticed that the winner on protest, Hastings horse The Hombre, was beaten by Sir Time Keeper when they clashed over 2000m at Te Rapa on May 1. Nicholson stepped up the 3-year-old's training work to make up for the bungle.

Nicholson thinks enough of Sir Time Keeper that he is eyeing the Cox Plate in the spring.

New Zealand's other chance in the Doomben Cup is the talented mare Ekstreme. She was a $35 chance and trainer Bryce Revell would like to see some rain in Brisbane.

Metal Bender was the $3 favourite, ahead of Road To Rock ($3.80) who will head to Palmerston North's Wellfield Lodge stud after the race.

- NZPA