10 March 2021 | Duncan Dornauf for Tasracing
Victorian trainer John “Bulldog” Nicholson is no stranger to winning feature races in Tasmania and he will be hoping to add another feature.
On Saturday night, he will have a two-pronged attack as he chases his third win in the Group 3 Tasmanian Derby in Hobart.
John prepared Gingerbliss to victory in 2013 and won the race last year with Micton Mouse, with both winners driven by his son Rhys.
This year he puts the polish on Alby Two Chains and Sebs Choice, who ran the quinella in Sunday’s Tasmanian Guineas.
Alby Two Chains produced good gate speed to hold the lead and dictate affairs in the 2090-metre event, and after recording a reasonable lead time of 34.3s the pacer was able to get away of quarters in 31.7s, 31.6s, 29.2s, 29.0s on his way to a four-metre win.
“I really like him, he is really well-bred and everything else and next year he will be a real horse,” said John about the half-brother to multiple Group 1 winner Jilliby Kung Fu.
Sunday’s win was the first for this season for the Captaintreacherous colt, who was second-up from a break after finishing down the track at Yarra Valley the start prior.
“He was a bit all over the place at Yarra Valley, he was first-up and I sort of rushed him up to come down here, he was probably a run short that day,” the trainer-driver explained.
Nicholson’s other runner Seb Choice had a nice run on the leaders back, and John believes there isn’t much between the duo at present.
“There’s not much between them, but Alby Two Chains will end up a better horse,” he said.
John will retake the reins on Alby Two Chains while his son Rhys retains the drive aboard Sebs Choice, and John isn’t concerned about the 2579-metre distance of the Derby, which is the first time that every runner in Saturday’s field will go over the long journey.
Bookmakers have installed Alby Two Chains as the $3.00 equal favourite along with another Victorian Danceforme.
Trained by Leroy O’Brien, the gelded son of A Rocknroll Dance has won two of his six starts, including a 13-metre win at Mildura on 5 March and will have the services of Chris Alford on Saturday night.
John has also decided to “have a crack” at the Tasmanian Oaks with Deadly Error, who is first-up since late October.
The daughter of Captaintreacherous has had two recent trials, including a win at Bacchus Marsh on 27 February.
Bookmakers have her on the third line of betting at $8.00 behind last Sunday’s Hobart winner Momentslikethese ($1.65) and Annerie who has crossed the Tasmanian Sea and joined the stables of Dean Braun.
Bullys Delight is John’s sole runner in the Group 2 Tasmania Cup and has drawn the pole in the $75,000 final and is a $10 chance after finishing second to Triple Eight in last weeks heat.
Saturday’s 11-race card commences at 17:44 with the first three races on Sky Racing 2 and the remainder of the card on Sky Racing 1.
Approved By Dean Baring www.harnessbred.com
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