Does anyone think that Nicanor will be a possible contendor for the 2009 Kentucky Derby

Question

God i hope they don't push him too hard to follow in Barbaro's footsteps

Answer 1

Usually, siblings don't live up to what their older siblings were able to accomplish.  Mariah's Storm was bred back to Storm Cat repeatedly, and none of the progeny lived up to the magic that was Giant's Causeway.  However, it is possible that Nicanor could be good enough to run in the Kentucky Derby preps next year.

His workout times have been good.  From the bloodhorse blog about Nicanor, I hear that he is doing very well.  Peter Brette did an interview there and he likes Nicanor a lot.

I saw a video of him arriving at Fair Hill for training a couple of months ago and he already looked like a big strong sturdy horse with muscles on his shoulders and everything already.  It was a relief after seeing the Mill Ridge photos of him playing in the pasture where he was counter-cantering (right lead in front, left lead in back)... I was worried then that there could be some conformation issues with him.  But now I think he's doing ok.

I don't think that Michael Matz is stupid enough to push the horse to do anything that it can't.  He's a good horseman and the Jacksons are good owners.  They'll find the right place for him.  And they have been treating him just like any other horse, according to the reports I've read.  Matz is training other horses for the Jacksons and they're very smart about where they send the horses.  They have a wonderful little allowance filly named Lookalike.  And Michael Matz was very patient with a little colt named Ready Set... he tried stakes last year, but wasn't up to par, so Matz played around with some blinkers and surface changes, while Ready Set ran in allowance company and I think they've worked it out.  Ready Set ran great in the Barbaro stakes at Delaware Park a few weeks ago and I can't wait to see him in person for the West Virginia Derby this weekend!

I trust the connections to do what's best for Nicanor.

Answer 2

The Jackson's are wonderful owners and will see that Nicanor is taken care of. He is training with Michael Matz who is a A1 trainer.  Reports are that his first race will be this fall sometime. It is too early to tell if he is as good as his older brother, but I have heard through a friend that there are reports that Nicanor is better than Barbaro was at this age. I anxiously await his first race.  

Answer 3

its possible

Answer 4

Perhaps- though I am not entirely sure. I am aware, perhaps more than most people, that Michael Matz is not going to push that horse to do anything- and he won't rush things either. He has no reason to, because neither he nor the colt's owners, the Jacksons, are motivated by money. They are in this sport to do well with their horses and enjoy watching them, not to win big bucks. Money is no object to them- it never has been, they are independently wealthy. Matz shares the Jacksons' philosophy when it comes to racing and training horses- why else do you think they chose him as their trainer?? If that were not true, then Nicanor would have ended up in the hands of someone like Nick Zito or Todd Pletcher, I think. I would also expect that there may still be a certain amount of grieving over the loss of Barbaro which is stiil affecting what happens with Nicanor. Sure, you can laugh at me if you want, but I have been following Matz's career for over 30 years now, since I was a 12 year old kid, and I have learned things about how he operates over the last 3 decades. I have seen him ride, and watched him teach. In the begining, when I first noticed him, no one in the racing world even knew who he was- and in fact, very few people in the rest of the horse world did, outside of a small group in the sport of show jumping. Even after he started winning on the grand prix circuit, it took Matz years to get his career and reputation built- and along the way, there were lots of trials. The worst of these was by far and above the plane crash he survived in 1989 which made him a hero- but there were others. When he decided to go into racing as a trainer in 1999, I knew that it would only be a matter of time before he would train a horse that was capable of winning a Triple Crown race, or even the Crown itself. He proved me right a couple of years ago- and I expect that he will do so again. I know one thing though- it won't happen instantly or quickly. Give him time and be patient. If Nicanor turns out to be Derby material ( and right now, it is WAY TOO EARLY to speculate on that) then we will see him. In the meantime, I will wait and see.

Answer 5

no