John Symons and Sheila Laxon, the training duo, are requiring a bit more patience as they monitor Nihancan’s development towards longer racing distances.
The ultimate objective for Nihancan is the Mahogany Challenge Series Final (2500m) at Flemington on July 4. However, Nihancan must first earn his spot in that race through the Ken Cox Handicap (2000m) at Flemington this Saturday.
Nihancan’s pedigree is well-suited for staying contests.
He is a son of the 2007 VRC Oaks winner, Arapaho Miss, a mare who has produced high-quality stayers including De Little Engine, the 2019 Oaks winner Miami Bound, Roaring Engine, and Kadavar.
Thus far, Nihancan has competed in five races, achieving a maiden win over 2040m at Seymour on May 21. He then finished sixth over 2000m at Flemington on June 6, behind Rockette.
However, Symons indicated that the colt is showing strong signs of being ready for the 2500m distance of the Mahogany Challenge Series Final.
“Hopefully we will pick up some points on the weekend to get to that race, as that’s what we’ve got him set for,” Symons said.
“I thought he ran really well the other day. He was jammed up behind other horses for quite a while and when he got some clean air, his last 100 (metres) was really good.”
“But the draw (barrier 16) makes it tricky.”
Nihancan commenced his racing career over 1600m, finishing last at Ballarat in March. He then contested a 2000m race at Kilmore in April, finishing seventh.
Following that, Symons stated that the stable decided to adopt a more assertive racing approach.
“Early on he wasn’t switched on and then we rode him forward at Pakenham,” he commented.
“Before that we had been teaching him to settle, and we saw improvement and then he really improved at Seymour.”
“The horse that he beat ran third in the Victoria Derby and I thought he took another huge step forward at Flemington the other day.”
“I know he only ran sixth, but I like the way he hit the line and he’s screaming out for the 2500 metres.”
“If he can get into the final of that series, I think he will be thereabouts.”
Having previously trained Knight’s Choice to victory in the Melbourne Cup, Symons hopes Nihancan might one day participate in Australia’s most prestigious race, following in the footsteps of his half-sister Miami Bound who ran in the race twice.
“We’ll look and see where he ends up this spring and how he develops,” Symons remarked.
“It will all depend on each run and where he’s at, but he is a nice horse.”
Consider the racing betting markets for the Ken Cox Handicap at Australian betting sites.
