Wangaratta trainer James Fraser may call on the services of bush jockey Robert Beattie when his grand campaigner Dr Nipandtuck lines up in Heat Six of the VRC Winter Championship at Flemington.Despite a comprehensive last-start victory in the Swan Hill Cup and some good form in metropolitan grade over the last month, Fraser has been unable to engage a leading rider for Dr Nipandtuck in Saturday's $75,000 race."You would be amazed by how many jockeys I have called to take the ride," Fraser said."

Wangaratta trainer James Fraser may call on the services of bush jockey Robert Beattie when his grand campaigner Dr Nipandtuck lines up in Heat Six of the VRC Winter Championship at Flemington.

Despite a comprehensive last-start victory in the Swan Hill Cup and some good form in metropolitan grade over the last month, Fraser has been unable to engage a leading rider for Dr Nipandtuck in Saturday's $75,000 race.

"You would be amazed by how many jockeys I have called to take the ride," Fraser said.

"We're only a little stable so when the horse comes to town the guys that have been riding him like Steven King and Matty Pumpa get off to ride for bigger stables.

"It's understandable because they might only get four or five rides a year from us but they get forty or fifty from the bigger guys."

Although better known as a bush jockey, Fraser said he would have little hesitation in booking Beattie for the weekend on the strength of his record on the horse.

Evidently Beattie and Dr Nipandtuck have something of an affinity, pairing up five times for two wins and two placings.

"Robbie loves the horse and would give his left testicle to ride him anywhere so at this stage he'll probably ride him this week," said Fraser.

Dr Nipandtuck's Swan Hill Cup win gave Fraser little option but to target the Winter Championship as the horse's consistent rating keeps him out of weaker events.

"I had him down to a rating 89 and I was just starting to lick my lips a bit and then he comes out and wins the Swan Hill Cup and shoots back up again," Fraser said.

"There used to be open handicaps at every provincial meeting but they just don't happen any more so we are forced to race him in stronger company."

Following his winter campaign, Fraser will aim his stable star at his fifth consecutive Melbourne Cup carnival.

In his four previous Cup week campaigns Dr Nipandtuck has never failed to earn a cheque for his connections, with a close-up fifth in the Group One 2007 Emirates Stakes one of his best performances.

Fraser recently bid farewell to his promising two-year-old Slamming who won impressively at Flemington in May.

The son of Invincible Spirit was sold to Asian interests following that victory and will continue his career in Hong Kong.