NIKKI Burke and Damien Oliver head to Morphettville on Saturday, both in the search of racking up personal firsts. Burke, who’ll saddle up Unpretentious, to be ridden by Oliver, in the $500,000 Goodwood, is chasing her first Group 1 victory, reports Racing Network.
And, remarkably, Oliver, who has ridden 101 Group 1 winners, has never won a Goodwood.
The Cranbourne-based Burke is happy with howUnpretentious, coming off a six-week freshen-up, has prepared for The Goodwood. Unpretentious, beaten in a three way photo behind Spirit Of Boom and Fontelina at his last start in the Group 1 William Reid Stakes at Moonee Valley, had his final workout today at Cranbourne before heading to Adelaide later in the week.
“He’s fit and well, I just hope he draws favourably,” Burke said.
Burke said she would not be concerned if Morphettville threw-up a rain affected track as long as it didn’t fall into the heavy category.
“I’m not worried about a Slow track, I think he’ll get through that all right, I’m not sure about a Heavy track,” she said.
“He had one start on a Heavy track and finished third, but he’d come back from Sydney and may have been at the end of his preparation.”
Unpretentious is rated a $10 chance by sportsbet.com.au with Sistine Demon the $5.50 favourite.