Mick Dittman Plate Likely For Nostradamus

Nostradamus has been included in the nominations for the 2015 BTC Cup, but co-trainer Michael Hawkes revealed that the talented colt is likely to contest the 2015 Mick Dittman Plate at Doomben this weekend.

Nostradamus returned to winning form with a strong performance in the 2015 Mick Dittman Plate. Photo by: Daniel Costello

Nostradamus returned to winning form with a strong performance in the 2015 Mick Dittman Plate. Photo by: Daniel Costello

Nostradamus was far from disgraced when he took on the older sprinters in the Group 1 Oakleigh Plate (1100m) at Caulfield on February 28 and Hawkes told Sky Racing HQ that the son of Medaglia D’Oro would be competitive in the Group 1 BTC Cup (1200m), but he believes that the Listed Mick Dittman Plate (1200m) for three-year-olds gives him the best chance to record a second straight race win.

“We are probably leaning towards the Mick Dittman Stakes race,” Hawkes said.

“He is very well in at the weights under set weights for that race.

“If he went into the BTC Cup he would be competitive, but we will probably head towards the Mick Dittman where he will probably end up starting favourite and is a good chance of winning again.”

Nostradamus was touted as one of the leading three-year-olds in the country when he won the Group 3 San Domenico Stakes (1100m) at the start of the 2014 Spring Racing Carnival, but he was plagued by wet tracks for the rest of the preparation and was unable to record another race win.

The well-bred colt made a slow start to his autumn campaign with flat performances in the Oakleigh Plate, Listed MSS Security Stakes (1100m) at Flemington on March 14 and the Group 2 Arrowfield Sprint (1200m) at Royal Randwick on April 11, but he returned to winning form with a smart performance in the Group 3 Gold Coast Guineas (1200m) on April 25.

Hawkes said that he was delighted to see Nostradamus return to his best form in the Gold Coast Guineas and he believes that jockey Hugh Bowman may have discovered a new way to ride the three-year-old ahead of the Mick Dittman Plate.

“Early days we had a little bit of a wrap on him and he won very well up the straight in his first start,” Hawkes said.

“His form tapered off and colts can do that.

“The trip up there has probably done him the world of good, but I have to give credit to Hughie.

“Being held up at a vital stage he never panicked and most jockeys would have panicked, but he just bided his time, the gap came and it was probably the best thing that could have happened and got him to well so well.

“Now knowing that sort of trait, he has a short and sharp burst that might be the best way to ride the horse.

“He is going very, very good and is thoroughly enjoying the Sunshine.”

The 2015 Mick Dittman Plate nominations were released yesterday and the likes of Bring Me The Maid, Deiheros, Hijack Hussy, Lucky Tom, Miss Cover Girl, Rekindled Power and Sarajevo have also been included in the initial entries for the Listed event.

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Thomas Hackett

Thomas is a passionate and opinionated racing journalist and punter who has been obsessed with horse racing since he backed Saintly to win the 1996 Melbourne Cup. An international racing enthusiast, he has his finger on the pulse of racing news not just from Australia but all around the world.