Proisir's Nikau Spur Wins Again

Media Release - Thursday August 19

Former Kiwi Nikau Spur picked up his fourth career victory when successful at Sandown on Wednesday over 1500m in the hands of jockey John Allen.

Nikau Spur winning at Sandown on Wednesday. Photo: Pat Scala (Racing Photos)

David Eustace, who trains Nikau Spur in partnership with Ciaron Maher, said the five-year-old was not perturbed by the gap between runs, having not raced since June.

“He is a funny horse,” Eustace told Racing.com. “He does need everything to go his way in preparation to a race and in the run as well. He enjoys a bit of cover.

“He quickens up on slow ground really well, which is probably pretty key.”

Advertisement

Eustace believes the variance in Nikau Spur’s training has also benefited the gelding.

“He seems to like being down at the beach,” he said. “The team have done a great job down there with him. He has been coming into the stable and spending some time at Caulfield as well. The bit of variety really helps too.”

Eustace said Nikau Spur appreciates a bit of give in the ground and finding suitable conditions will be key going forward.

“He just doesn’t want it really firm,” Eustace said. “This time of year is just about okay, but to race on a firm track at Flemington in summer, he didn’t like that. We have probably got to pick our way a little bit, but he could travel up to Sydney as well.

“It’s been seven weeks between his last run and today so it shows he doesn’t need racing to keep him up to the mark. We can be patient and tick him over and he is going to go up a bit today and it will be lovely if we can find a 78 over a similar trip.”

Nikau Spur has now won four of his nine starts, three of those in partnership with Allen, who echoed Eustace’s sentiments.

“He is a funny horse,” Allen said. “He can be very good when he is good, and then he throws in the odd bad performance.

“The key maybe is that he needs to be fresh and I thought it was a good win there today.

“He definitely has the ability if he can turn up in the right order to win a Saturday race. I am sure they will be looking for something like that.”

Nikau Spur was initially trained in New Zealand by Rosie Buchanan for whom he placed in his only raceday start at Awapuni before he caught the eye of Maher and Eustace’ bloodstock manager Will Bourne, and a deal was negotiated to secure the talented galloper. – NZ Racing Desk

 

 

Visit the profile page for Proisir

Proisir in upcoming sales:
Advertisment

Race Result - Ladbrokes Bet Ticker (Bm70) 1500m

Sandown-Hillside Track: Soft(5) Time: 1:34.42
1
Nikau Spur
- 5g Proisir (AUS) x Sarsarun (NZ) (Ustinov (AUS))
Tnr: C Maher & D Eustace Rdr: John Allen 61
2
1.0
Global Gift
- 6g Invincible Spirit (IRE) x Special Gift (IRE) (New Approach (IRE))
Tnr: C Maher & D Eustace Rdr: Josh Richards 59.5
3
1.1
Zoist
- 4g Zoustar (AUS) x Hoist (AUS) (Zeditave (AUS))
Tnr: T & C McEvoy Rdr: Madison Lloyd 57
4
1.6
Worsfold
- 5g Shamus Award (AUS) x Eagles Destiny (AUS) (Snippetson (AUS))
Tnr: Nick Smart Rdr: Will Price 58
5
4.8
Banstead
- 7g Zacinto (GB) x Variation (NZ) (Volksraad (GB))
Tnr: Peter Gelagotis Rdr: Jordan Childs 59
6
5.0
Amusez Moi
- 5g Dalghar (FR) x Next (GB) (In The Wings (GB))
Tnr: Archie Alexander Rdr: Declan Bates 59.5
7
5.1
Capodanno
- 6g Declaration Of War (USA) x Staten Island (NZ) (More Than Ready (USA))
Tnr: Shea Eden Rdr: B Melham 58.5
8
7.6
Cetshwayo
- 4g Dundeel (NZ) x Haraka (AUS) (Foreplay (AUS))
Tnr: D T O'Brien Rdr: Jamie Kah 58.5
9
9.9
Nerone
- 5g Hallowed Crown (AUS) x Rosa Raisa (USA) (Rainbow Quest (USA))
Tnr: Richard Laming Rdr: Laura Lafferty 56
More Reading...
Sires With Winners - Tuesday November 5
Here is the full list of 145 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
More Stakes Success for Air Assault
Group I placed last season in the SA Derby, talented gelding Air Assault kept the winning run going for Victoria Derby winning trainer Andrew Gluyas when taking out the Listed SAJC John Letts Cup (1800m) at Morphettville on Melbourne Cup Day.
Rosemont and Partners Stakes Quinella on Cup Day
Written Tycoon posted his second new stakes-winner on Melbourne Cup Day when promising three year-old gelding Catoggio took out the Listed VRC Amanda Elliot Stakes (1400m)  for Rosemont Stud and partners, who also race the second horse Bosustow.
Coolmore Set Justify Fee for 2025
Coolmore have announced the US fee for Justify in 2025 with the undefeated Triple Crown winner priced at $US250,000 to head  their roster of 16 stallions at Ashford Stud in Kentucky.
Kiwi Bred Gringotts Wins $3million Big Dance
Talented New Zealand-bred gelding Gringotts(NZ) (Per Incanto) delivered a big payday for his connections with victory in Tuesday’s A$3 million Big Dance (1600m) at Randwick.
Knights Choice a True Underdog Story
Punters were left stunned when the Queenslander Knight's Choice and Japanese visitor Warp Speed (JPN) emerged from the pack to fight out a dramatic finish to the $8,560,000 Group 1 Lexus Melbourne Cup (3200m) at Flemington.
Antrim Coast to Fly Flag for The Oaks Stud
The well-renowned colours of The Oaks Stud will feature across two feature Trans-Tasman meetings this week, kicking off with Antrim Coast lining up in the Listed Furphy Plate (1800m) on Melbourne Cup Day at Flemington.
Magic Nick Strikes Again – Fastnet Rock x Galileo
The Fastnet Rock x Galileo nick has been on fire in Melbourne this spring producing Cox Plate winner Via Sistina (IRE) and leading Melbourne Cup contender Buckaroo (GB) and it struck again overnight in the UK with a brand new stakes-winner in Military Academy, who captured the Listed Floodlit Stakes (1m4f) at Kempton.
All Too Hard's Arran Bay Brave in the Furphy Plate
Phillip Stokes admitted his preference was to run Arran Bay in the Listed John Letts Cup at Morphettville but was overruled by the owners, who made the correct decision in favouring the Listed Furphy Plate (1800m) at Flemington.
Melbourne Cup Pedigree Analysis - Do It Yourself
Breednet has produced a great page with click through to five generation pedigrees for all the Melbourne Cup runners, so for amateur pedigree buffs looking to have a Cup flutter based pedigree here’s your chance  to DIY it!