Northam aiming High after Cup miss

After missing out on a start in his hometown Scone Cup, rejuvenated gelding High Court will head to Rosehill in search of a consolation win.

Trainer Rod Northam was hoping to get the in-form seven-year-old into last week's Listed race but with a Big Dance qualification on offer, the feature attracted plenty of interest and High Court didn't make the cut.

It was almost the same scenario a start earlier in the Tamworth Cup (1400m) before High Court snuck into the field, holding off all but the stakes placed Banju to finish a fine second.

Thankfully, Northam had no such issues this weekend and High Court will take his place in Saturday's Precise Air Handicap (1500m) at Rosehill where he will bid to take his win record into double-figures.

"Going into the Tamworth Cup we were an emergency and lucky to get a run," Northam said.

"He just missed out on a run in the Scone Cup and I was very keen on him there.

"But the extra week shouldn't worry him and neither should Rosehill."

High Court only came to Northam last year but has proven a handy acquisition, managing a top-three finish in five of his eight runs for the stable.

He hasn't missed a place since his blinkers came off in February and Northam says the horse still has a great zest for racing despite rising eight.

"Jeff (Englebrecht) did a really good job with him, he is a lovely, sound old horse," Northam said.

"He's got his vigour for racing still and every start he has really put in."

The trainer is also keen to see how three-year-old Hammoon Thunder handles his first metropolitan test in The Agency Real Estate Handicap (2000m) after a solid second against the older horses at Newcastle two starts ago and last-start second to Saturday's rival Four O'Clock Knock at Mudgee.

"I really like him. He's a work in progress and still six to twelve months off but he's a real staying-type horse," Northam said.

"He raced really well last start and just got beaten by one of Bjorn (Baker's) at Mudgee. From the wide gate he got caught wide early and had to do a bit of work so he was vulnerable late.

"I thought he was worth a shot in a three-year-old race."

Overextend and Hiraishin round out Northam's Rosehill team in the Highway Handicap (1200m), the trainer shooting for back-to-back wins after claiming the corresponding race with Steplee last weekend.