Kelso Wood sets sights on J.J. Atkins with talented colt Nikitas

MAGIC Millions placegetters Nikitas and Candika took their first steps to winter stardom on Tuesday as the pair gear up for J.J. Atkins tilts in June.

MAGIC Millions placegetters Nikitas and Candika took their first steps to winter stardom on Tuesday morning as the pair gear up for J.J. Atkins tilts in June.

In a hot 800m jumpout, Candika and Nikitas finished third and fourth respectively behind Tony Gollan’s unraced youngster All Pluck and Chris Munce’s speedy filly Nicconi Leggera.

It was the first jumpout held on the new Eagle Farm A-Grass, which attracted rave reviews from riders, who suggested it has taken much more quickly than the course proper has.

Nikitas was recently the subject of a stud deal, where Victoria’s Woodside Park paid $1 million to secure a quarter share and standing rights in the colt.

Trainer Kelso Wood has planned Nikitas’ comeback to be the Champagne Stakes on May 14, followed by the Sires Produce and J.J. Atkins.

“If for some reason I can’t find another suitable jumpout, then he could race on April 30, but I don’t really want to deviate from the original plan,” Wood said.

Being a half-brother to Oaks winner Jameka, Wood thinks Nikitas will run 2000m and even longer as he matures.

To this point, Nikitas has similar formlines to Wood’s former star Sizzling, who progressed to win the J.J. Atkins, but even though they are being set for the same races, Wood says they are very different colts.

“Sizzling was a beautiful horse to be around, quiet as a mouse. This fellow is different. If you turn your back on him he won’t hesitate to have a go at you.”

Nikitas likes to have the attention of either Wood or his regular work rider Tricia Gessler and doesn’t take kindly to strangers in his box. “With Sizzling, I would have been able to sleep in his box with him. This boy would bite me in a second,” Gessler said.

Steve O’Dea was happy with the jumpout of Candika, who is set to resume on April 30 at Doomben. “She got a bit lost on the outside but she was just out to have a look around and did enough,” O’Dea said.

Candika had a good hitout at Eagle Farm on Tuesday.

The two-year-old winter features are shaping up strongly, with confirmation on Tuesday that ATC Sires winner and Golden Slipper runner-up Yankee Rose is being aimed at the BRC Sires and J.J. Atkins, with Zac Purton booked for both rides.

Godolphin’s Group 2 winner Souchez is another J.J. Atkins contender.

Godolphin also confirmed that its Queen Elizabeth runners Hauraki and It’s Somewhat are headed to the Doomben Cup.

The midweek meeting originally set down for Eagle Farm on May 11 has been transferred to the Sunshine Coast, with a $60,000 2YO race the feature on the day.

Originally published as Kelso Wood sets sights on J.J. Atkins with talented colt Nikitas