Form line not a true gauge of Niccanova's ability: owner

"He won at Eagle Farm when nothing else handled it and he's won another race on a heavy track, so I guess we're hoping he gets through it.”

CONTENDER: Niccanova, with James Orman aboard, during the Tattersall's Recognition Stakes at Doomben in Brisbane last year. He's set to contest the Glasshouse Handicap at the Caloundra Cup meeting on Saturday. Picture: ALBERT PEREZ

RACING: Niccanova's recent form reads eighth, ninth and tenth, but trainer Steve Tregea says the black and white facts don't tell the real story of how the talented five-year-old is going.

Niccanova has been the subject of a strong betting move to win Saturday's Glasshouse Handicap at Caloundra.

He is dropping back to 1400m after a four lengths defeat over a mile behind Vinland, where he was closer than expected in the run.

"He won a jumpout on Tuesday in a canter. There was probably nothing in it, but he won under a good hold,” Tregea said.

"I think he's going better than his form says. Things haven't fallen into place.

"I don't want to see him up near the lead like he was last time. Jimmy (Orman) tried to be aggressive on him because he was sluggish his previous couple of runs and he ended up too close.”

The trainer also suggested Niccanova may simply have been a little overrated at times and he feels the class of today's race suits better.

The form guide reads two from two on heavy ground, but it was a big flop at Rockhampton last July on ground officially rated as Soft that is causing Tregea a little grief.

"I'm just a bit worried about the track being a bog. If it's bottomless, that Rocky run always sticks in my mind,” he said.

"If you take that out of it, he won at Eagle Farm when nothing else handled it and he's won another race on a heavy track, so I guess we're hoping he gets through it.”

The Richard Laming trained Jamaican Rain won last year's Glasshouse with jockey Tegan Harrison and they return this year chasing back to back wins in the race.

Woorim was the last runner to claim successive wins in the race, in 2009 and 2010.

Meanwhile, Chris Munce will attempt to win the race as a trainer with Skate To Paris, after winning it as a jockey on Belltone in 2012.

The race will be held at 5.10pm, following the Caloundra Cup.