Jardine satisfied with Nakeeta Cup weight

Darryl Sherer - Thursday Sep 14

Nakeeta's Melbourne Cup weight has got the thumbs up from Scottish trainer Ian Jardine who has confirmed Flemington is the next stop for the Ebor Handicap winner.

Advertisement
Nakeeta winning the Ebor Handicap. Photo: Twitter

Last year's winner of the Ebor, Heartbreak City went on to finish a close second to Almandin in the Melbourne Cup and Jardine told the Sporting Life he was satisfied with 53kg for Australia's greatest race.

"He's got the same mark as Heartbreak City and he should get a run," Jardine said. "I think we'll go - It's not every year you get the chance to run in a Melbourne Cup."

The six-year-old Nakeeta finished runner-up to subsequent Sydney Cup winner Polarisation over a mile and half at Hamilton in 2015.

At his last start he carried 9:00 (57kg) to defeat Flymetothestars in the Ebor Handicap over a mile and three-quarters on August 26.

Jardine said if the son of Sixties Icon reproduces his York form he believes he will be competitive.

"I'd be hopeful of getting him there in the same form he is now and if he is, he must have a chance," Jardine said.

"He's a stayer with a change of gear which is what you need."

Nakeeta is available at $34 with Sportsbet for the 2017 Melbourne Cup.

Advertisment
More Reading...
Remembering Northerly – The Greatest Caulfield Cup Winner This Century
It's Caulfield Cup week, and what better moment to revisit the life and times of one of the greatest - if not the greatest - Caulfield Cup winner of the modern era.
Racing Industry Mourns Much Loved Izzy Neale
The thoroughbred racing industry is devastated tonight following news that apprentice jockey Izzy Neale, aged 22, has tragically died as the result of a race fall at Warren on Sunday.
2027 Golden Slipper Entries – Sortable Sale Mail – Find Out More
The new season is nearly upon us and that means all over the country a new crop of rising two year-olds are taking baby steps in the best stables in the land with the Australian Turf Club announcing this week they had received 1881 entries for the 2027 Golden Slipper, so who is in the race?
Inglis Digital Purchase Iron Hawk to Tackle G3 TAB Mile
Harness racing trainer Barry Purdon bought Iron Hawk last year with New Zealand Cup Week in mind, and now the moment has arrived, with the stakes performer set to tackle the Gr.3 TAB Mile (1600m) at Riccarton on Wednesday.
Sires With Winners - Tuesday November 10
Here is the full list of 16 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Unraced First Season Sires Trial Report
It’s been a pretty steady start to spring in terms of 2YO races and we are still waiting to see a first season sire post a winner, but there has been action aplenty at the trials which would indicate the pre-Christmas period is set to ignite.
G1 Aussie Pedigree Watch –Newly Minted
Pedigree does matter if you want to be winning races longer than 1200m, although in an interesting twist a colt bred on face value for speed is in fact from the family of Zabeel.
One to Watch – Mornington
A homebred for Seymour Bloodstock with an intriguing pedigree opened her account with a stylish win at Mornington on Tuesday.
Haras d'Etreham Set Fee for Hotazhell
Triple Group I winner Hotazhell will begin his stallion career at Haras d'Etreham in France at a fee of €15,000 next year before then shuttling to Widden Stud in Australia.
Remembering Sunline – The Queen of the Cox Plate Before Winx
From our vantage point in 2026, we can look back at modern Cox Plate history and marvel at how quickly the years are passing.