After a handful of placings in sixteen starts over two seasons, the Brian Nicol trained Likethelook finally cleared maiden class at Gore yesterday.
The five year old Changeover gelding last started at the Riverton harness racing meeting at the end of October where he ran third but his condition didn't fully satisfy his trainer.
"When he came back this year he wasn't right in the coat so I put him out for two weeks and he's come back a lot better," he said.
In the running yesterday, driver Shane Walkinshaw dropped in to get the trail behind leader Idealistic Lass. He then moved Likethelook out of the trail at the top of the straight but still had to make up three lengths on Idealistic Lass. He eventually got there by half a length.
Likethelook beating Idealistic Lass – Photo Bruce Stewart
"He hung a bit and Shane couldn't drive him out. He didn't know whether he was going to catch that horse in front. We'll probably have to get the chiropractor to him," said Nichol.
Likethelook is out of the Sir Vancelot mare Chinooks Shadow which had three starts before breaking down. It was then Nichol decided to breed from her and Likethelook is her third foal. Another one of her progedy Cast A Shadow recently qualified.
Nichol has been training horses since 1984 and Likethelook is his thirteenth winner. Flash Of Fire is his biggest winner, winning four races between 2011 and 2012.
"I used to take them into Ascot Park but I now have my own 700 metre track just done the road from Wayne Adams so I haven't taken a horse there for eighteen months. I like to give them plenty of long slow work."
Bruce Stewart
Southland harness racing