Queensland hobby trainer Kelvin Hickmott will be pitted against some of the biggest names in Australian racing when he runs his aptly-named mare War Baby at Moonee Valley on Saturday.
Names like David Hayes, Chris Waller, Lee Freedman, Robert Smerdon and James Cummings roll off the page when you look at the trainers who have nominated runners for the Dr Sheahan Plate (1200m).
But it's fair to say few Victorian punters – or perhaps many punters at all – would have heard of Hickmott who trains at Kooralbyn 70km south-west of Brisbane.
Hickmott, who has been training for 20 years but describes himself as a hobby trainer, has never had an interstate metropolitan winner.
He is hoping that will change with War Baby, the iron mare who had 37 starts since returning from a 10-week break in June last year.
War Baby will go to the races at Moonee Valley on Saturday having had a six-week let-up which is as good as a lengthy holiday for many horses.
Hickmott says six-year-old War Baby, who has performed well in Queensland races including the Group III Tatt's Cup at Doomben and in the Listed Caloundra Cup on the Sunshine Coast, thrives on a heavy schedule of racing.
And she spends her non-racing days frolicking in the paddock at his Kooralbyn property, which Hickmott feels is the key to keeping her happy.
War Baby arrived in Victoria on Sunday, being stabled at Cranbourne, and Hickmott hopes she can pinch some Victorian prizemoney.
She is far better performed on rain-affected tracks and Hickmott feels the Moonee Valley track, which always has some give in it, should suit her.
Three-kilogram claiming apprentice Brooke Sweeney will take the ride.
"I'm looking at this as a bit of a working holiday and I hope War Baby can run well so I can stay down in Melbourne with her for a while yet," Hickmott says.
"You would think 1200m would be too short for her but she has won over the distance and I remember one day when she was coming back from a freshen up she ran a huge race over 1200m at Doomben.
"There are some good mares races nearly every week in Melbourne so I'm hoping she can run some nice races and pay for my stay in Melbourne.''
Hickmott has also travelled to Melbourne with former Godolphin horse Gouldian who appears unlikely to get a start in Saturday's BM78 Handicap (1600m) at Moonee Valley.
Gouldian will probably race at Cranbourne on Sunday.
"I've never been to Melbourne with any horses before so this is going to be a good, fun trip for me," Hickmott said.
