No dramas for Novela at Murray Bridge races

Michael Hickmott is one of many trainers busily scouring the lots on offer prior to next week’s Magic Millions Gold Coast yearling sale but it is one bought from the Adelaide equivalent in 2022 that could highlight his day at Murray Bridge on Saturday.

Novela, which in Spanish translates to soap opera, was overrun by stablemate Stolen on debut last month but this time the lightly raced four-year-old can go one better in the Sportsbet Fast Form Maiden over 1200-metres.

“They went very quick early and he had to do a bit of work,” Hickmott said of the $1.90 betting sites favourite.

“At his first start he was probably left vulnerable and the stablemate, he’s got some ability.”

With his second start at four, Hickmott noted that being a bigger, stronger horse that the gelding took more time to come to hand.

Dyer, a three-year-old by Zousain is another who can make a strong impression after winning at Morphettville Parks on Boxing Day and the claim for apprentice Alan Lai will again negate the 60-kilo impost.

“I think the young lad did a good job the other day and that makes it easier to give him another shot at it again,” he said.

“The horse really enjoyed being able to find the rail and dictate the race though this is a smaller but stronger field.”

Both at $5 across markets, he noted the Shayne and Chelsea Cahill-trained Dobbinair as a danger, though Hickmott is happy to stick with Lai and without having had a lot to do with the young jockey, he is full of praise for the imported crop of riders and the influence of former South African star Felix Coetzee at the riding school in Hong Kong.

“They are very well schooled by Felix, these Hong Kong kids and most of these young lads have got some decent ability,” he said.