Nikolic gets the nod to navigate Basaltico in Melbourne Cup
Sydney Morning Herald
Monday October 26, 2009
CAULFIELD GUINEAS-winning jockey Danny Nikolic has emerged as the new jockey for the Luca Cumani-trained international raider Basaltico, taking over the mount from Damien Oliver.Basaltico had its first Australian start when finishing seventh in the Geelong Cup last week behind Leica Ding, which was ridden by Nikolic."I thought the run at Geelong was very good, he was doing his best work late after getting a fair way back," Nikolic said. "The step up to the two miles looks perfect for him and he is in the race with no weight [51.5 kilograms] on his back, so he looks to be a genuine chance."Oliver rode Cima De Triomphe for Cumani in the Caulfield Cup but that stayer disappointed and will not line up in the Melbourne Cup as he is too far down the order of entry. Cima De Triomphe will instead target the Mackinnon Stakes at Flemington on Saturday.Basaltico was taken to Geelong where Cumani attempted to emulate his success in the race with Bauer last year. Bauer went on to finish second to Viewed in the Melbourne Cup; Cumani also produced Purple Moon for a second in the 2007 Big One behind Efficient."Luca has a good record with his stayers when he brings them to Melbourne and he is sure to win a cup soon. I just hope this is the year with Basaltico," said Nikolic, who expects to have a ride on Basaltico some time between now and Melbourne Cup race time next Tuesday.Melbourne Cup-winning jockey Kerrin McEvoy ventured to Sandown on Saturday morning to ride the Chris Waller-trained Melbourne Cup aspirant Warringah in a gallop.Bought by clients of Waller's from the British stable of Sir Michael Stoute, Warringah gets into the Melbourne Cup with 52.5kg and Waller said McEvoy had first refusal on the mount."Kerrin helped play a part in me getting my hands on Warringah, so if he is able to ride it in the Cup then he will," Waller said yesterday.McEvoy is the retained rider of Sheikh Mohammed's Darley operation in Australia and he formerly rode for his Godolphin outfit, the international arm of the Sheikh's vast array of thoroughbred stock."Godolphin obviously has a couple of runners still in the mix for the Melbourne Cup, with Kirklees and Crime Scene there but if only one of them runs then we could be a chance of getting Kerrin on Warringah," said Waller, who said he understood Frankie Dettori would be at Flemington next week to ride a Godolphin runner in the Melbourne Cup.Waller said Warringah, which ran gamely under a mammoth weight in the 2800-metre Ebor Handicap in England, had pleased him since touching down in Australia."He has been coming along well out there at Sandown and we wouldn't be looking at the Melbourne Cup with him if he hadn't have done everything right," he said. "I am looking forward to having a runner in the Melbourne Cup and he should be very competitive."Waller won Saturday's Crystal Mile at Moonee Valley with Rangirangdoo, and the gelding may back up in Saturday's Mackinnon Stakes."He pulled up well after the Moonee Valley win in which he was highly impressive," said Waller. "I'll wait and have a look at the nominations for the Mackinnon and then make a decision on whether to head to that race or the Emirates Stakes at Flemington the following week."Meanwhile, South Australia-based jockey Dom Tourneur is not expected to ride again until Melbourne Cup day after suffering a nasty fall at Mount Gambier yesterday.Tourneur, who will ride the Jake Stephens-trained Melbourne Cup fancy Alcopop, damaged ligaments in an ankle in the heavy fall in which he was speared into the track.Alcopop roared into Melbourne Cup contention with his last-start dominant win in the Herbert Power Stakes at Caulfield.MELBOURNE CUPFlemington, November 3$6.50 Alcopop, Efficient, Viewed$11 Roman Emperor$13 Zipping$15 Daffodil, Speed Gifted$17 Master O'Reilly, Vigor$21 Leica Ding, MourilyanSupplied by TAB Sportsbet
© 2009 Sydney Morning Herald