Sweet deal: Olive happy with shifted Championships qualifier
Trainer Nick Olive sees the switch of the south-east qualifier for the Newhaven Park Country Championships from Nowra on Sunday to Goulburn on Tuesday as a plus for consistent mare Exotic Deel.
It is the second year running that rain has foiled Nowra’s bid to host the $150,000 race but in Olive’s estimation the extra couple of days is in his favour.
In-form Sydney hoop Rachel King will pilot Nick Olive’s Exotic Deel in Tuesday’s Country Championships qualifier at Goulburn.Credit:Getty
Exotic Deel burst into contention for the qualifier with three straight wins in the spring before returning with an eye-catching third at Canterbury at the end of January and Olive has been happy to keep her fresh since.
“Having a bit more time has probably helped her,” he said.
“She galloped last Wednesday and a couple of extra days that will give her that freshness, she’s probably better today than she was yesterday whereas with other horses you’re thinking ‘do I give them a bit of work or not’.”
Olive said while his mare handles a heavy track, and that certainly would have been the surface had the race gone ahead at Nowra, both the Goulburn circuit and slightly firmer footing will suit her.
With a favourable draw Olive said he would like Rachel King to have Exotic Deel in close proximity to race favourite Art Cadeau, who has drawn a couple of gates to their inside.
“Whether that is a bit better than midfield or whatever, I’d like to see her around him and hopefully she finishes off,” he said.
“But a lot depends on where they race on the track, whether they want to get out off the fence or not.
“This is definitely her biggest test but I feel she is a mare on the way up, she looks fabulous and is going well, so she is ready for the test.”
The Canberra trainer said if first emergency Successful Day gains a start he anticipates the mare would give a sight up on the speed but concedes she is unpredictable.
She was a winner at 1400m on her home track back in December but has been unplaced in two starts since then, with a subsequent barrier trial keeping her ticking over.
“She’s a free running horse, she’ll get out and probably be the leader,” he said.
“On her day she can be very competitive but she can also throw in a shocker.”