PAUL Niceforo has given up!
But not on his Provincial-Midway Championships winner Territory Express of course. Rather a barrier blanket.
Niceforo has dumped the blanket for the gelding’s Five Diamonds mission at Rosehill Gardens on Saturday.
“It hasn’t worked,” Niceforo said, matter of factly.
“I’ve had it on Territory Express for a trial and two races, so it’s coming off.”
Niceforo understandably is delighted star apprentice Zac Lloyd is sticking with Territory Express for the $2m Five Diamonds (1800m).
He has ridden him four times for two wins – including the $1m PMC Final (1400m) at Royal Randwick in April during The Championships – and two seconds.
Territory Express, with Lloyd aboard, missed the start when a late closing narrow second to Iknowastar in the Five Diamonds Prelude (1500m) at Royal Randwick on October 26, and his trainer has tried everything, the barrier blanket included, to get him to jump cleanly.
Niceforo feels the gelding’s barrier manners are possibly attributed to an incident at Newcastle in May last year when he was accidentally struck over the head with the whip by a rival jockey at a vital stage in the straight.
Territory Express, ridden by apprentice Amy McLucas, was a $2.25 favorite that day when sixth to Gorgeous Zara in a Maiden Plate (1850m).
That was only his third career start and he broke through later that year at the same track in a 1400m Maiden Handicap at the Newcastle Cup carnival in September.
Niceforo even before Territory Express resumed this campaign tagged him as middle-distance potential, and is looking forward to getting him out to 1800m on Saturday.
He came from well back when third to Hawkesbury Gold Cup winner Just Folk in the Group 3 Lord Mayors Cup (1800m) at Eagle Farm on June 1 before going for a break.
English stayer Docklands was withdrawn from the Five Diamonds on Thursday morning, and is staying in Melbourne to take on his Cox Plate conqueror in the $3m Group 1 Champions Stakes (2000m) at Flemington on Saturday.
With Docklands coming out, Territory Express on Thursday morning with TAB.com.au was a $6 joint favorite with Victorian visitor and last start Rosehill Group 2 Hill Stakes (1900m) winner Attrition.
Story John Curtis, November 7, 2024 - Pics Bradley Photos
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