Racing
Hickmott double, young stayer set for G1 berth
Michael Hickmott’s Party Crasher booked himself a ticket to Queensland with his third win from just five starts at Morphettville on the weekend.
The New Zealand bred three-year-old by Ocean Park was heavily backed from $1.60 into a $1.35 favourite before scoring a soft two length win with Jake Toeroek in the saddle, deputising for a suspended Todd Pannell, with the Group 1 Queensland Derby his immediate mission."We needed to run him today with the thought of going to Queensland with him in two weeks,'' Michael Hickmott said post-race.
"Todd is the one who identified the Queensland Derby a while ago.
"Adelaide Cup Day was good indicator, today (Saturday) was a better one. Not heaps went right, they walked, he sprinted up quick and looks like he'll get 2400m and if it's a wet track he'll get even better,'' he said.
Party Crasher was the first leg of a training double for Hickmott when Synchro was successful later in the day, one of two winners for Ben Price who was also successful aboard Merchant Boss for Morphettville horseman Travis Doudle.
Sir Now was back to his brilliant best with Maggie Collett in the saddle while the win of the day came from talented three-year-old Colmar who was a 2.58 length winner first-up from a spell with Connor Murtagh in the saddle.
"He's a good horse this bloke,'' co-trainer Ron Daniel said.
"He was probably a fraction underdone to be honest, maybe that's the way to train him.
"He's surprised me a bit today,'' he said.
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