Dictation has made a strong impression over the hurdles this season and Paul Nelson is hoping he can bring that form to the flat when contesting Tuesday’s NZB Airfreight Road To The Jericho (3200m).
The unique race has fallen victim to a pair of abandonments, firstly at New Plymouth on the 14th of September, before a storm halted proceedings at Waverley on Sunday. This has resulted in several scratchings already, particularly from northern runners, including Raajoices and In A Pickle.
Nelson, who trains in partnership with Corrina McDougal, had no intention of entering the New Plymouth edition with the son of Tavistock, but he comes into the Waverley race as a live chance carrying just 54kgs under Kate Hercock.
“We’d look at this race for him when it was at New Plymouth, but we decided it was just too far away,” Nelson said.
“When it came to Waverley, it looked like a good idea, but I made it to the roundabout at Bunnythorpe before heading home again yesterday.
“I was able to turn around there so it was still a couple of hours each way on the truck for him, but the race is late in the day tomorrow, so we’ll head over again.”
Despite winning two races impressively this campaign, Dictation hasn’t had all things go his way, dislodging his rider when looking a near-certainty in the Sydenham Hurdles (3100m) at Riccarton, before being hampered by a fallen horse when leading at Woodville last start.
“He didn’t get the nicest run in the finish there (at Woodville), the horses seemed to be falling over everywhere around him, so we’ll just forget about that one,” Nelson said.
“He’s been very genuine since he’s been hurdling, so hopefully he’ll go on with it on the flat.”
The victor of the Road To The Jericho earns a place in the iconic Jericho Cup (4600m) at Warrnambool in early December, but Nelson is wary of the contrasting conditions they would face in comparison to the heavy surface at Waverley.
“The form of this race is in heavy ground, which is not what you’ll get at Warrnambool,” he said.
“But, if he went well tomorrow and we gave him a run on a better track with a similar performance, a trip could be considered.”