Despite a long campaign, Gary Nickson’s tough gelding One Destiny has found career best form in recent starts and landed another fighting win at Randwick on Saturday.
The Gary Nickson-trained One Destiny fought off the formidable challenge of favourite Jedibeel to score a deserved win in the Thank You ATC Members Handicap (1100m).
This was One Destiny’s 16th start of an extended campaign that began in October last year, scoring his fifth win during this period including his third win (and a second) from his last four starts.
“One Destiny is a horse that thrives on racing,” Nickson said.
“He has been in the stable for 18 months or more but the owner does have a small property at The Oaks and he goes there sometimes – but then he races to get back because he loves the stable life.
“We don’t work him every day on the track, the last couple of days he has been walking the streets of Warwick Farm off the pony. He’s just a tough bugger and wants to win.”
One Destiny ($5) held off Jedibeel ($3 favourite) to win by a half-length with Rain Lord ($18) just over a length away third.
Emerging apprentice Molly Bourke rode a brace of wins with One Destiny’s success coming after she scored on Ningaloo Star earlier on the program and was singled out by Nickson for particular praise.
“Molly’s a champion,” Nickson said.
“She just told me she’s lost her 3kg claim and I told her you can ride any of mine with no claim!”
Nickson said he will keep One Destiny racing over winter as the gelding excels on heavy tracks and he’s racing better than ever.
“You turn them out when they are winning and sometimes when they come back they are not the same horse,” Nickson said. “We will keep going with One Destiny, he’s enjoying his racing.”
The Bjorn Baker-trained Shezanalister made an impressive return to racing when she won the Racing For Good On July 13 Handicap (1100m).
Shezanalister ($4.80) gave star apprentice Zac Lloyd the third leg of a winning quartet, complementing his earlier wins on Brave One and Clear Thinking and then the Winter Cup on Tamerlane, when she scored by a half-length from Wild Botanica ($2.50 favourite) with Miss Jennifer ($16) just over a length away third.
Baker said Shezanalister developed into one of the most improved horses in his stable over summer as she won three city races in succession in fast time.
But the trainer pointed out that Shezanalister, a daughter of Star Turn, handles soft-heavy going as she proved at Randwick so she will be very effective on Sydney’s rain-affected winter tracks in coming weeks.