Jockey Christian Reith is confident he has the formula to see five-year-old Wouldnt It Be Nice return a far-more positive result when we lines up for Saturday’s Listed Winter Stakes (1400m) at Rosehill Gardens.
Christian Reith will retain the ride on Wouldnt It Be Nice in Saturday’s Winter Stakes at Rosehill. Photo: Steve Hart
Reith partnered Wouldnt It Be Nice for the first time competitively in the Listed Civic Stakes (1350m) at Rosehill a fortnight ago, and while looming in a good position rounding onto the final straight, conceded he let the horse go far too early, resulting in a tired finish for seventh.
Allocated the ideal barrier 2 and charged with carrying only 54kgs in the Winter Stakes, Reith told AAP he will bide his time on the Choisir gelding this time and his strong turn of foot could prove pivotal in a return to winning form.
“I felt I probably let him go a bit too soon,” Reith said.
“He was found wanting the last little bit. I’ll hang on to him a lot longer.
“If he can use that turn of foot that he’s got and be within striking distance he’ll run a good race.”
Wouldnt It Be Nice has been the stable star for Newcastle-based Paul Perry since his competitive debut in late 2012; posting five wins and a further eleven minors through a total of forty-three career starts.
A multiple stakes winner beginning with a strong performance to take out the 2014 edition of the Group 3 Concorde Stakes (1000m), Wouldnt It Be Nice required a couple of runs to find form upon resuming in 2015 but placed third in the Sydney Markets Foundation Handicap (1100m) and won the Listed June Stakes (1100m) in autumn and winter.
Continuing to produce positive results through the Spring Carnival, including a brace run for third in the Group 3 Cameron Handicap (1500m), the gelding out of Mia Cat Dancer returned this time for ninth in the Hawkesbury Gold Rush (1100m) before running sixth in the Wilson Asset Management Handicap (1100m).
Placing fourth in the June Stakes on June 11th, Wouldnt It Be Nice ran fifth in the Winter Dash (1200m), in what was his only other start prior to the Civic Stakes.
Ladbrokes Australia is currently offering Wouldnt It Be Nice at 2016 Winter Stakes odds of $17.
