A Sydney Cup berth is awaiting promising stayer Nextanix if he can mix it up with some tough campaigners in the Listed $100,000 Turnpoint Randwick City Stakes (2000m) at Randwick tomorrow.
Nextanix is a winner of only two races but showed over the summer that a potential staying career lies ahead with three seconds over 2000m and 2400m.
Trainer Kerry Parker stepped Nextanix up to the 2400m of the Listed Stowe Australia Pty Ltd Christmas Cup at Rosehill on December 10 in which he ran second after a solid second in a Benchmark 80 Handicap at Rosehill over 2000m.
He then repeated that effort and ran home gamely for a one and a quarter length second to Yulalona in the 2400m Group 3 Summer Cup at Rosehill on Boxing day last year.
Parker was satisfied that the Domesday four year old could have a staying career ahead of him and has mapped out a program heading towards the Group 1 $500,000 Sydney Cup (3200m) at Randwick on April 28.
“He had two tough runs over 2400 metres at the end of his campaign and he was only out for a few weeks,” Parker said.
“He was still a bit dour in his work and that’s why we went to 1500 metres first-up.”
“He will go to the 2000 metres on Saturday then go on to the Sydney Cup.”
Parker tipped Nextanix out for a short break after the Summer Cup then ran him first up in a 1500m Benchmark 90 at Rosehill on March 3 where he made up plenty of ground at the finish indicating that the extra distance tomorrow will be to his liking.
Parker is looking for an uninterrupted run into the Sydney Cup after most of his previous campaigns have been plagued by numerous setbacks.
“Last preparation was the first time he’d had a proper preparation,” Parker said.
“All in all, he is a bit mentally tougher and he’s filled out.”
Regular rider Jeff Penza will again take the mount on Nextanix who in showing $8 in a fairly even race which has the Chris Waller trained Permit at $4.80 favourite.
Waller will also saddle up last year’s Sydney Cup favourite Hawk Island ($9.50) and Beijing Boy, a $16 chance.
The Gai Waterhouse trained Herculian Prince looks well placed after coming off a solid fifth to Shoot Out in the Group 1 $350,000 Chipping Norton Stakes at Warwick Farm last weekend and is currently second favourite at $5.
