The Brisbane winter carnival is the target for New Zealand's latest Group One winner Time Keeper who will be accompanied by his much travelled stablemate Sir Slick.Trainer Graeme Nicholson says three-year-old Time Keeper is the heir apparent to Sir Slick, an eight-year-old veteran of 118 starts and third to his stablemate in Saturday's Easter Handicap (1600m) at Ellerslie.Time Keeper led most of the way for an emphatic victory that led to comparisons from his trainer."Time Keeper's the up-and-co
The Brisbane winter carnival is the target for New Zealand's latest Group One winner Time Keeper who will be accompanied by his much travelled stablemate Sir Slick.
Trainer Graeme Nicholson says three-year-old Time Keeper is the heir apparent to Sir Slick, an eight-year-old veteran of 118 starts and third to his stablemate in Saturday's Easter Handicap (1600m) at Ellerslie.
Time Keeper led most of the way for an emphatic victory that led to comparisons from his trainer.
"Time Keeper's the up-and-coming Sir Slick," Nicholson told NZPA.
"He's only a three-year-old and you haven't seen the best of him yet. He'll be a lot better next year because he's still maturing."
Time Keeper has already raced 22 times but has hit his straps in the past month, winning three od his past four starts.
His victory in a Group Three 2000m race at Awapuni encouraged Queensland bloodstock agent Paul Bellingham to ask if $1 million would buy the horse, Nicholson said.
"They said to me would you take a million and I said probably not because he's going to be worth a hell of a lot more next year," Nicholson said.
"They said they would keep in touch but I don't know whether they will come back to us or not. The horse has one foot that is a little bit 'clubby' and I think they were concerned about it."
Nicholson, who trains in partnership with Paul Allbon at Te Aroha, owns Time Keeper in partnership with Frances Crimmins of Auckland. Crimmins also has a share in Sir Slick.
Nicholson said Time Keeper and Sir Slick were both headed for the Brisbane winter carnival.
Time Keeper would target the Queensland Derby (2400m) on June 12 while Sir Slick would take on races similar to those he contested last year, including the Brisbane Cup (2400m).
Time Keeper went to the lead inside the first 400 metres of Saturday's race and jockey Mark Sweeney had the horse freewheeling in front when a couple of lengths clear at the top of the straight.
The horse did not flinch in the run to the post and went on to score by 1-1/2 lengths from fellow three-year-old November Rain.
Sir Slick was the same margin third after leading early.