KEY POINTS:
Cambridge trainer Murray Baker will be forced to pit his two 3-year-olds against each other in Sydney this Saturday after Nom Du Jeu was scratched from last Saturday's Rosehill Guineas.
Baker withdrew Nom Du Jeu from the group one event on the morning of the race after the
Montjeu colt had an elevated temperature.
But the trainer is hopeful of a recovery in time for Saturday's group two A$140,000 ($166,000) Tulloch Stakes at Rosehill, in which stablemate Rios will also run.
"It's a bit of a setback but we're hoping to run him this weekend," Baker said. "He seems okay but we'll know for sure in the next few days."
The Baker pair were yesterday among 24 nominations for the Tulloch, along with Grand Dancer from Bruce Wallace's stable and AJC Derby contender Prince De Galles, trained by New Zealander Chris Waller.
Nom Du Jeu drifted to $31 with Australia's TAB Sportsbet for the AJC Derby (2400m) at Randwick on April 26 after missing the run on Saturday.
He ran fourth in last month's New Zealand Derby and, being out of Baker's Kelt Capital Stakes and Brisbane Cup-winning mare Prized Gem, looked an ideal Derby chance at Randwick.
"He hasn't had a lot of luck in New Zealand and he's a real 2400 metre horse _ an out and out stayer," Baker said.
"But whether he's got enough brilliance to win a Derby we'll have to wait and see."
South African jockey Jeff Lloyd retains the ride if Nom Du Jeu runs on Saturday.
Storms in Sydney on Sunday night and the forecast for more showers this week raised the prospect of a wet track for Saturday, which features the Golden Slipper.
"Nom Du Jeu doesn't mind it wet but I'm not sure about Rios," Baker said.
Rios, to be ridden by Damien Oliver, is on trial for the AJC Derby in his first start beyond 1600m. The Wellington Guineas winner struck trouble in his first Sydney run, a seventh placing to Acey Ducey in the Phar Lap Stakes at Canterbury on April 5.
"He hit the fence and over-reacted. I've never seen him that far back before but he hit the line well."
Baker was encouraged by Red Ruler's close-up sixth to Dealer Principal in Saturday' Rosehill Guineas. Rios beat him by a length at their previous meeting over 1600m at Tauranga.
Taranaki trainer John Wheeler's three-year-old filly Pentura was nominated for Saturday's Arrowfield Stud Stakes (2000m), the traditional lead-up to the AJC Oaks on April 30.
There were 55 nominations for the A$2.25 million weight-for-age BMW (2400m) on Saturday.
Mark Walker's mare Princess Coup will head the Kiwi challenge, while Wheeler said his stayer Pentathon might back up after his luckless fifth in the Manion Cup last Saturday.
Resolution and Mission Critical were also nominated.
- NZPA