Nikau Spur is not eligible for the Magic Millions wildcard that is on offer in Saturday’s Shoot Out at Eagle Farm, but that won’t prevent Corey and Kylie Geran from chasing another win with him.
The rejuvenated eight-year-old will have his 13th start since April in the $125,000 event over 2100 metres.
Being bred in New Zealand and offered for sale at Karaka renders the son of Proisir ineligible for the Magic Millions wildcard, but The Shoot Out shapes as the most suitable option after a successful two-start raid on New South Wales.
“He’s had his last two starts at Newcastle and Randwick and I wasn’t really sure what to do with him, but we got him home and he’s as well as ever,” Corey Geran said.
“Even if he was to win, he can’t get in the Magic Millions race because he was put through Karaka as a yearling, but there’s just not many other options for him.
“We’ll just keep trying to pick off the races can we find with him because he’s absolutely in career-best form.”
It took Nikau Spur nine starts to break through this year, but did so in the Listed Queensland Cup (2400m) on October 12 and posted another victory two starts later in The Beauford (2300m) at Newcastle.
His only start since was a third placing in the Listed Christmas Cup (2400m) at Randwick on December 14.
It has only been this preparation that Nikau Spur, who started his career in Australia with Ciaron Maher and David Eustace, has got out beyond 2200m, which has Geran confident of him handling the drop back 300m in trip this weekend.
The Toowoomba trainer considers drawing barrier six and being reunited with Mark Du Plessis as positives.
“I think the barrier is really important for him, it should get him a bit of cover,” Geran said.
“As long as there’s a bit of pace on, just a genuinely-run race, he should lob in a good spot and Mark gets back on and he’s won three races on him.”
Nikau Spur is a $13 chance in betting on The Shoot Out, which is headed by Kerchak ($4.20) and Belvedere Boys ($4.60)
