It was a boost for trainers Brian and Shane Anderton, who have lost the services of their well-performed steeplechaser Personal Success for the second winter in a row.
Personal Success, a last-start winner over country at Oamaru, has strained a tendon. "She will be in the paddock for six months," Shane Anderton said.
Personal Success was sidelined last July when she sustained concussion in a fall at Washdyke. She won steeplechases at Gore, Wingatui and Riccarton during the winter.
Nicholman, winner of hurdles races at Riccarton and Washdyke last winter, is aiming at the Grand National Hurdles.
The Yamanin Vital gelding may have a steeplechase as part of his preparation. He resumed on the flat at Oamaru on May 15.
He ran second to Counter Punch in the National Hurdles last August.
Mountain High ran fourth at Oamaru from three starts over hurdles in the winter of 2006. He was then put aside.
The big 6yr-old is a half-brother by Yamanin Vital to Variable, winner of seven steeplechases including the Great Western and Homeby.
Nicholman (Stewart Moir) and Mountain High (Jonjo Milczarek) jumped six fences on the course proper.
Sky Cruza (Chris Davies) completed his steeples ticket when he jumped six fences on the course proper with Master Potter (Milczarek). The pair had jumped eight fences inside the course proper.
Sky Cruza is trained by Marion Stevenson.
Davies (21) is an English rider based at Wingatui for the winter. He has ridden five winners on the flat.
Kimberley Boy (Milczarek) completed a hurdles ticket when he jumped 10 fences with Conan (Davies).
Kimberley Boy, the winner of four flat races from the Invercargill stable of Ben and Sally Gordon, has been in the care of Paul Richards.
Not In The Avenues (Milczarek) shaped well over eight hurdles with Vitaquette (Moir).
Art Protector (Milczarek) and Istigold (Davies) completed a similar task.
Not In The Avenues, winner of two flat races for Ellis Winsloe, has been in the care of Terry Kennedy.
Zeman Zulkifli is in the process of becoming apprenticed to Kennedy. The 21-year-old Malaysian arrived at Wingatui on Monday. He has worked for Matamata trainer Jon Sargent for the past six months.
A start for Last Frisco in the Homeby Steeplechase at Riccarton tomorrow week will depend on her recovery from a knock to a leg. She was at the track yesterday after missing two days' work.
Sand Sweeper is to race over hurdles at Flemington on Saturday. He won a hurdles trial on Monday.
Sand Sweeper was a five-length winner at Moe on May 12 in his first start over hurdles.
