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By Brad Gray

Tim Martin is confident that Pick Me Up and King Darci will both collect their fair share of prizemoney ahead of Rosehill on Saturday.

Pick Me Up has finished close up in both of his runs this time in and a winner third-up last campaign, the son of Encosta de Lago looks ready to salute the judge first again. The five-year-old is untried beyond 1400m but Martin believes that he’ll run it out now that he has finally grown into his enormous frame.

Pick Me Up last start at Rosehill

“I’ve always thought he’d get a mile and thought he’d be a Saturday class horse. He has taken a lot of time being very big horse, he is 17 hands and was quite a heavy horse. He was probably left a colt for too long,” Martin said.

“He ran well first-up and ran even better second-up so hopefully the form continues that way.

“There is not much pace in the race and although he has drawn awkwardly he should get into a lovely position in the run. He’ll go really well.”

King Darci kicks off his campaign in the Schweppes Handicap over 1100m, with Martin bullishly suggesting that the four-year-old has “never gone better.”

“He is a horse that came from New Zealand for Import Racing. It was the first horse they bought and I thought he’ll win a race or two for them at the provincials,” Martin said.

The son of Darci Brahma took his time breaking his maiden at start number seven at Goulburn but went on to claim two metropolitan races, both at Warwick Farm. King Darci hasn’t been sighted at the trials but Martin said punters need not worry.

“I’m not one of those trainers that likes trialling horses once they’ve been passed to race. I’d rather have a nice course proper gallop and kick off in a shorter race. I think he’ll sprint really well fresh and we will go forward from there,” Martin said before adding, “He loves the wet. He grows a leg in it.”

“Both are nice winter horses. I’d like to win a race or two this time in with them and then back off heading towards November when the races are a bit easier. I’ll place them out of carnival time.”

Meanwhile, Martin’s stable star Heavens Above, who took out the Group One Coolmore Classic when last in training, is back at Rosehill ahead of the spring.

“She has been back in for two weeks but has just been going slow. She has come back quite heavy having put on a lot of weight which is good. She looks really well,” Martin said.

“She’ll be set for the Epsom and probably go down for the mares race in Melbourne (Myer Classic). I’ll stick to the plan which will be similar to last year.

“I can’t wait to get her over 2000m but I don’t think it will be this year. She’ll get a mile and a quarter no worries now that she is older and stronger.”

Talented filly Limbo Soul, who won brilliantly on debut before starting favourite in the Group Three Magic Night Stakes, will only be seen at the back end of the spring with a view towards the autumn.

“I’ve given her more time. I don’t want to do too much with her this spring. She’ll come back in for two soft kills, so to speak, and then be set for the autumn. She’ll come back in after the Grafton Cup carnival (July 12-13).”

“She was just a bit hard going. She has plenty of ability though and I’ll bide my time with her.”

All the fields, form and replays at Rosehill on Saturday