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Our Boy Nicholas resumes in the Hawkesbury Gazette Maiden Plate (1100m) on Thursday after placing on debut in a useful form race last season.
The Gai Waterhouse-trained colt commences his spring campaign at Hawkesbury on Thursday after a one start maiden preparation late last season.
Our Boy Nicholas on that occasion placed at Canterbury over 1100m with the performance netting the More Than Ready colt a Timeform figure of 77.
Giving the performance added merit was the fact he finished third behind subsequent Listed Rosebud Stakes (1200m) winner Eurozone.
Connections have since allowed the well bred colt time to mature who now finds a race in which he can break maiden status on Thursday.
Our Boy Nicholas was sound in a 1050m Randwick trial earlier this month and should be forward enough to fire fresh.
From the outside barrier, expect Tommy Berry to have Our Boy Nicholas in the first pair perhaps outside Roubaix before his class prevails in the straight.
While favourite in the Hawkesbury Gazette Maiden Plate, Our Boy Nicholas doesn’t possess the highest master Timeform figure of this field, instead sharing the equal second highest.
That form line behind Eurozone is the key though and expect the colt to improve on his current master figure today.
The highest master Timeform figure of this field belongs to the Peter Snowden-trained Oils who profiles as the main danger.
Oils debuted at Canterbury last May where he ran fourth over 1200m.
The run netted a Timeform figure of 82 where he wasn’t beaten far behind the likes of Amovatio, Brilliant Terror and Adage.
Amovatio has placed on multiple occasions in weekend city company while Brilliant Terror broke maiden status in weekend company at Rosehill during the winter.
Expect Oils to settle worse than midfield from barrier 1 and watch for him attacking the line late.
On disclosed form, Our Boy Nicholas and Oils look set to do battle however a market watch is strongly advised for debutant Last Try Wins.
The Neville and Christopher Voight-trained gelding ran second in his latest trial at Randwick.
Last Try Wins was partnered on that occasion by Hugh Bowman who stays aboard at his debut which could be considered an encouraging lead.
Well tried at his debut, keep an eye on the Joe Pride-trained Roubaix.
The Choisir gelding attempted to make all on debut at Kembla Grange last start but simply went out too hard and subsequently weakened into fifth behind She’s Bella.
Watch for an improved performance from Roubaix with the benefit of race experience and fitness.
Overall though, Our Boy Nicholas profiles as the one who possesses the most upside in Thursday’s Hawkesbury Gazette Maiden Plate and should deliver on it by claiming his first career win.
