Benalla trainer Wayne Nichols may have his career on the line but still has plenty to smile about with the emergence of Bartholdi as a potential Group One three-year-old.Nichols was shocked to learn this week that Benalla had been earmarked for closure as a training centre as part of Racing Victoria's Limited's blueprint for country racing.Under the plan Benalla trainers would relocate to Wangaratta which is something Nichols has discarded as an option for himself.With his luck seemingly shot, N

Benalla trainer Wayne Nichols may have his career on the line but still has plenty to smile about with the emergence of Bartholdi as a potential Group One three-year-old.

Nichols was shocked to learn this week that Benalla had been earmarked for closure as a training centre as part of Racing Victoria's Limited's blueprint for country racing.

Under the plan Benalla trainers would relocate to Wangaratta which is something Nichols has discarded as an option for himself.

With his luck seemingly shot, Nichols had few expectations in the 1000-metre Fiesta Star Handicap at Flemington on Saturday for the horse he rates as a South Australian Derby prospect but Bartholdi defied his $26 odds to win in a photo finish.

"We will get turkey again for Christmas this year but I don't know about the next couple," Nichols said after the photo showed Bartholdi had held on to win by short half head from $3.80 favourite Warm Whispers and Subashi ($101).

Nichols said he had identified Bartholdi as having above average ability but thought he would need the run which was his first win in four starts and first start since July.

"He is not a 1000-metre horse but he is a very good horse," Nichols said.

Nichols likened Bartholdi to his Group One-placed sprinter Diplomatic Force but said Bartholdi would not be at best until get got to at least 1600 metres.

"I think he has got as many gears as Diplomatic Force but perhaps not over 1000 metres," Nichols said,

"He is more a mile or 2000-metre horse but fresh today the speed was on and it helped him a little bit.

"At the end of his last preparation we were thinking about next year's SA Derby for him but whether he will be a 2500-metre horse after that there might be some question."

Nichols said the Group One Australian Guineas (1600m) at Flemington in March may now be a viable option.

The trainer is familiar with Bartholdi's pedigree having broken in and educated his half brother Bohemiath who won the 1999 Geelong Cup and the 2000 Adelaide Cup.

Nichols didn't attend the yearling sales believing Bartholdi would be too expensive, but stable clients bought him for only $20,000.

"Hopefully I can win a good race with him before I get put out of business," Nichols said.

Nichols said Benalla trainers would meet on Monday to discuss a response to the RVL Direction Paper's recommendation to cut off funding for training facilities at Benalla.

"It is not a done deal yet but I think they (RVL) have made a lot of decisions on ill-founded facts," Nichols said.

"Hopefully we can show them that."