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By Ray Hickson

Unbeaten four-year-old Nasturtium goes on trial for a test at stakes level at Randwick on Saturday and co-trainer Sterling Alexiou is quietly confident he’s up to the task.

Trainer Sterling Alexiou (Pic: Grant Guy)

The steps on the ladder have been small so far for the well bred son of Snitzel. A Hawkesbury maiden then a Gosford Class 1 and a Canterbury Benchmark 72 – each win at long odds-on and each by a comfortable margin.

So Alexiou, who co-trains with Gerald Ryan, said the timing is right now for Nasturtium to give a glimpse of what he’s capable of in the Ned Whisky Handicap (1100m).

“He’s come through the grades quite well albeit against moderate opposition,’’ Alexiou said.

“This is probably D-Day to see if he can go on with the job. But in saying that it’s also his first racing preparation even though he’s a four-year-old bull.

“Regardless of what he does I think he is a horse with a bright future. If he was to win we’d look at something like the Maurice McCarten.

“He finds an ideal enough race and he should be mighty hard to beat.”

In the almost month since Nasturtium made it three from three he’s spent a week out of the stable for a small freshen before returning with Saturday’s race in mind.

He was $3 favourite with TAB on Thursday and Alexiou expects jockey Tim Clark to be able to take advantage of an inside alley.

“On paper it looks like we did the right thing and found the right race for him so hopefully he can take care of them again,’’ he said.

“I think he is a horse that appreciates being able to get into stride, I don’t think he is just a leader.

“But he has a very high cruising speed, and has gate speed to go with it, and appreciates not being restrained too much.”

Boyfriend, another Snitzel colt, made a promising debut when fourth in the Lonhro Plate two weeks ago and Alexiou said he’s a horse with plenty of upside heading into the Group 2 $250,000 Fujitsu General Silver Slipper (1100m).

The youngster is virtually a preparation behind most two-year-olds up and racing at the moment as he didn’t make it to the trials the first time he was in the stable so to be beaten just over a length by Cythera at Randwick was encouraging.

“We’ve got a lot of time for him, a few of these have probably got the jump on him as it’s his first preparation getting to trials,’’ he said.

“He has a bright future and when he steps up to six furlongs and maybe a bit further we’ll see the best of him. He’s a horse myself and Gerald hold in pretty high regard.”

It’s expected stablemate Psychiatrist will run at Canterbury on Friday night, where Alexiou says the son of Exceed And Excel should give a good sight on the back of a trial win over Conqueror, who won at Kensington midweek.

In-form five-year-old Mr Mosaic chases a hat-trick in the Schweppes Handicap (1100m) and while he’s up in grade on his all the way win a month ago over the same course he stays on 54.5kg and clearly appreciates being on the fresh side.

Nasturtium wins at Canterbury on January 21

“It’s a big step up in grade compared to his last two but he hasn’t done too much wrong at home to say he has taken a backward step and can’t go on with it,’’ Alexiou said.

“It’s hard to knock winners, and he has a good racing pattern, and gets into winnable race.”

Alexiou concedes the Group 2 $400,000 Petaluma Hobartville Stakes (1400m) is a little ambitious for last start Newcastle winner Flying Crazy but says it will be a handy guide to where his next step should be.

“There’s plenty to be learned, there’s quite a few sharp ones lining up,’’ he said.

“He has good ability but he needs things to go his way because he’s learning how to race. He has the racing pattern that makes it easier stepping up in grade and on his day he had a good finish on him.”

All the fields, form and replays for Saturday's Rosehill meeting