Nymph Monte
Trish Dunell
Nymph Monte's successful return to racing has confirmed he is on target for an upcoming Group One challenge.
The five-year-old came back from a break at Te Rapa on Saturday and he posted a smart first-up victory in the Greene Racing 1600.
Opaki trainer and part-owner Grant Nicholson unveiled an ambitious plan for the gelding after his defeat of Hayley Grace in the Rating 85 contest.
"His target will be the Livamol Classic and he's gone well at Hastings before," he said.
Nymph Monte has now won six races and he wasn't disgraced when tested at the top level during his last preparation when he finished seventh behind Valley Girl in the Gr.1 Herbie Dyke Stakes.
"I think he's going to have a good year, he was a bit fresh today," Nicholson said.
"He didn't have a trial or a jump-out so it was a good effort and he's going to improve a lot."
Nymph Monte settled off the pace and he was brought with a well-timed run to beat Hayley Grace by half a length with the pacemaker Flanders a further length and a quarter back in third.
"He's a lot stronger now and he's a five-year-old by Tavistock and his family have got to five and six before they really kick in to it," Nicholson said.
Nymph Monte is out of the Grosvenor mare Grove Nymph, who is a half-sister to the dual Group One New Zealand Stakes and Easter Handicap winner Field Dancer and to the dual Group One Sydney and Brisbane Cups winner Just A Dancer. – NZ Racing Desk.
The five-year-old came back from a break at Te Rapa on Saturday and he posted a smart first-up victory in the Greene Racing 1600.
Opaki trainer and part-owner Grant Nicholson unveiled an ambitious plan for the gelding after his defeat of Hayley Grace in the Rating 85 contest.
"His target will be the Livamol Classic and he's gone well at Hastings before," he said.
Nymph Monte has now won six races and he wasn't disgraced when tested at the top level during his last preparation when he finished seventh behind Valley Girl in the Gr.1 Herbie Dyke Stakes.
"I think he's going to have a good year, he was a bit fresh today," Nicholson said.
"He didn't have a trial or a jump-out so it was a good effort and he's going to improve a lot."
Nymph Monte settled off the pace and he was brought with a well-timed run to beat Hayley Grace by half a length with the pacemaker Flanders a further length and a quarter back in third.
"He's a lot stronger now and he's a five-year-old by Tavistock and his family have got to five and six before they really kick in to it," Nicholson said.
Nymph Monte is out of the Grosvenor mare Grove Nymph, who is a half-sister to the dual Group One New Zealand Stakes and Easter Handicap winner Field Dancer and to the dual Group One Sydney and Brisbane Cups winner Just A Dancer. – NZ Racing Desk.