Gearing up for their respective next starts nearly 7000 miles apart, champion Nyquist (Uncle Mo) and GIII El Camino Real Derby hero Frank Conversation (Quality Road)–both trained by Doug O'Neill for Paul Reddam–turned in workouts over the Santa Anita main track Thursday morning.
Prepping for a highly anticipated matchup with fellow unbeaten Mohaymen (Tapit) in the GI Florida Derby at Gulfstream Park Apr. 2, Nyquist was given a stamina-building drill over a mile and two-minute-licked his opening three furlongs before finishing up his final five-eighths of a mile in “1:01 and change,” according to O'Neill. The composite time was 1:46. On-track clockers awared the Eclipse Award winner with a time of 1:01..40 for five furlongs.
“It was a solid work,” the conditioner commented. “We plan to leave for Florida Mar. 28.”
Perfect in five starts in 2015, capped by his gritty success in the GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile at Keeneland Oct. 31, Nyquist turned in a powerful sophomore bow in the seven-furlong GII San Vicente S. Feb. 15, besting this weekend's GII San Felipe S. hopeful Exaggerator (Curlin) by a resounding 1 1/2 lengths.
Frank Conversation will be having his first start on dirt when he faces the likes of 'TDN Rising Star' Polar River (Congrats) and Market Rally (Unbridled's Song) in the G2 UAE Derby at Meydan Racecourse in the United Arab Emirates Mar. 26. The bay, who annexed the Jan. 16 California Derby prior to his 3/4-length success in the El Camino Real Feb. 13, went five furlongs in 1:02.20.
Not a subscriber? Click here to sign up for the daily PDF or alerts.
