After a mammoth start to the year, Kody Nestor's Dubbo based stable is taking the opportunity to take stock while the win streak cools during the winter period.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
The start of the next racing season will provide ample opportunity when it kicks off tomorrow for Dubbo's trainers in Gilgandra, but there'll be definite hurdles to clear.
Nestor's most notable name in Saturday's Gilgandra Race day is Five Star Gal and while he expects her to be 'hard to beat' across the 1550m Benchmark 58 Handicap she's lining up in, his other entrants are nowhere near as much a sure thing.
READ ALSO:
Crypto Fiorelli, a four year old gelding who joined Nestor's stable at the start of the year, has continued to excel in track work, but hasn't yet broke through on track.
"He's in a race where he should be competitive," Nestor said.
"He's either got to sharpen up or he probably won't be around too much longer."
Another, Wilburglen, scored a win in Wellington in his first start with Nestor, then ran in second in Nyngan, but is headed back down in grade in the hopes of another victory in the Benchmark 50 Handicap.
Ima Bullet, the last of Nestor's hopes, will be searching for a maiden win after a decent spell.
"I'd be disappointed if Ima Bullet didn't go well, they were a bit disappointing last prep, but we gave them a real good break," Nestor said.
While the win-rate has certainly slowed in recent months, it's not something that gives Nestor any pause, with all going to plan for a strong resumption after the winter period.
"We're generally tipping all the good horses out over the winter, the last couple have been quiet for us, but we're in that transition period where we're looking to educate a few of the younger horses," Nestor said.
"Across these next couple of weeks, we should be able to start firing again."
Nestor won't be the only local looking to start off the season on the right foot, with Garry Lunn and Clint Lundholm both also wasting no time and heading to Gilgandra.
Lundholm's backing the inexperienced Knight Driver to overcome some inexperience in search of a maiden win and a strong start, but has some frustrating barrier draws to contend with elsewhere.
Tells Tails, Harwok'n'zoff, Rufio and My Shiromi have all drawn wide on the day, with Lundholm conceding it's not the ideal race for any of them, but a particular burden for the fast starting My Shiromi, who's looking to repeat after a win in Coonabarabran.
"Especially in Gilgandra, everyone wants to be on speed, but it's hard to knock her winning form."
