Olive Confident In-form The Conqueror Can Win

Leading Canberra trainer Nick Olive is confident his gelding The Conqueror can beat a field featuring runners from two of the country's biggest stables at Thoroughbred park today. The three-year-old will come up against Gai Waterhouse's Deralon and John O'shea's Fille Vilaine in the Jack Thomas Benchmark 64 Handicap (1400 metres).

But The conqueror has won three of his past four starts, the most recent over the mile at Goulburn on February 17. So Olive isn't fazed by the presence of the superstar Randwick trainers. "They're obviously outstanding trainers and their horses in this race have got some ability as well," Olive said. "He's (The Conqueror) coming back from the mile to the 1400, but he's improving all the time and has to be some chance in that race for sure. He's have to win pretty well to line up (in the Caulfield Guineas) on Black Opal Day."

Olive will also saddle up Capital Commander for the first time since the biggest win of her career in the Fillies and Mares magic Millions handicap (1300m) on the Gold Coast six weeks ago.

Reprinted from the Canberra Times Sunday 26 February 2012.
Date published: 27/02/12