Aussie hopes well-earned double will be the start of better things to come
Australian rider Danny Nikolic 'confessed' to finally breaking into a smile at Sha Tin yesterday after landing a timely double for Ricky Yiu Poon-fie and possibly unearthing the next stable star in the process.
Encosta de Lago three-year-old Sacred Kingdom made a winning debut in the Class Four fourth race up the straight in the style of a horse going places before Nikolic gave a faultless display to win on 20-1 chance Speed Fighter two races later.
Nikolic's first three months of the season have been tough on the jockey mentally, with little meaningful support from trainers and few opportunities to win races leaving him with only three victories before he headed to the races yesterday, but he gave thanks to Yiu for sticking with him - especially on Sacred Kingdom.
'It's been a case of just keeping my head down and working hard but it's tough when you aren't getting to ride chances. I told Ricky a couple of weeks ago that I hadn't ridden a good horse since I'd been here except for Sacred Kingdom, who feels well above average, and if he took me off I'd feel like going home,' Nikolic laughed.
'Ricky thought I was getting too carried away but he was solid as a rock. I know there were other riders trying to get the ride since his last trial but Ricky stuck with me and I thank him for that.'
Nikolic had earmarked Sacred Kingdom as a horse to hold on to from the first time he rode him in morning trackwork. 'That's the first time here I've been able to go to the races thinking I was on a sit and steer job and I think Sacred Kingdom has everything there to take him to Class Two if he learns a bit more about racing,' the jockey said.
