Dubbo trainer Peter Nestor is confident Cool Ice is on target for a repeat performance in this Saturday's Parkes Services Club Australia Day Handicap (1400m) at Parkes.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Cool Ice won last year's Australia Day Handicap with 55kg and will carry the same weight on Saturday after apprentice Kylee Kirkwood's 1.5kg claim.
The gelding won last year's race for senior rider Grey Ryan, coming off several unplaced efforts. Nestor believes Cool Ice goes into Saturday's race in better form this time.
Cool Ice resumed in a tough assignment when he finished down the track over 1000m behind Our Renaissance in the $50,000 Skellatar Showcase Sprint at Muswellbrook on 25 November.
He then ran a good second to Petrossian in the Christmas Cup (1300m) at Scone on 16 December then dropped back to 1200m last start when sixth of nine behind Zarhron in the Cowra Cup.
“His run second-up at Scone was good - he just ran into one a bit too good on the day and that horse (Petrossian) has since run well in Sydney,” Nestor said.
"Cool Ice dropped back to 1200m last time at Cowra and they just ran him off his legs over that trip.
"He's looking for the 1400m now and I'm sure he'll run another good race again at Parkes."
Saturday's feature event has attracted a field of seven, headed by Brett Thompson’s Slate On Edge who was allotted topweight of 65.5kg. Slate On Edge has won 10 times, including victories at Flemington, Moonee Valley and Doomben, with $330,000 won in prizemoney.
