Nihancan building towards staying test

Trainers John Symons and Sheila Laxon will need to cool their jets a little longer as they wait for Nihancan to stretch out in trip. 

The final of the Mahogany Challenge Series (2500m) at Flemington on July 4 is the race Nihancan has been set for, but first the colt needs to win his way into that race via the Ken Cox Handicap (2000m) at Flemington on Saturday. 

Nihancan is bred to stay. 

He is a son of 2007 VRC Oaks winner Arapaho Miss who has produced stayers of the calibre of De Little Engine, 2019 Oaks winner Miami Bound, Roaring Engine and Kadavar. 

Nihancan has raced on five occasions to date, registering a 2040m maiden win at Seymour on May 21 before running sixth to Rockette over 2000m at Flemington on June 6. 

But Symons said the colt was screaming out for the 2500m of the Mahogany Challenge Series Final. 

"Hopefully we will pick up some points on the weekend to get to that race, as that's what we've got him set for," Symons said. 

"I thought he ran really well the other day. He was jammed up behind other horses for quite a while and when he got some clean air, his last 100 (metres) was really good. 

"But the draw (barrier 16) makes it tricky." 

Nihancan started his career over 1600m, finishing last at Ballarat in March before rising to 2000m when finishing seventh at Kilmore in April. 

After that, Symons said it was decided to ride him more positively. 

"Early on he wasn't switched on and then we rode him forward at Pakenham," he said. 

"Before that we had been teaching him to settle, and we saw improvement and then he really improved at Seymour. 

"The horse that he beat ran third in the (Victoria) Derby and I thought he took another huge step forward at Flemington the other day. 

"I know he only ran sixth, but I like the way he hit the line and he's screaming out for the 2500 metres. 

"If he can get into the final of that series, I think he will be thereabouts." 

Having prepared Knight's Choice to win the Melbourne Cup, Symons hopes to one day see Nihancan run in Australia's most famous race, just as his older sister Miami Bound did on two occasions. 

"We'll look and see where he ends up this spring and how he develops," Symons said. 

"It will all depend on each run and where he's at, but he is a nice horse."