A JUNIOR AND A REJECT IN THE NEXT WAVE OF NSW STARS

Karloo Mick has kept New South Wales in the feature race limelight with his gritty performances in Australia and New Zealand for the past twelve months but the workload looks to have taken a toll on the nine year old and with the recent retirement of 2008 Miracle Mile winner Divisive, the stocks of leading horses in New South resembles that of Old Mother Hubbard's cupboard.

As with most industries racing has a cycle and all is not lost for New South Wales with two talented horses on the edge of top level racing. Rockets Reject and Ben Junior are both trained in Sydney by Ian Wilson and are set to take the next step in the next twelve months according to regular driver Jimmy Douglass.

"The next year is going to be an interesting time for the stable with two talented horses like Rockets Reject and Ben Junior" said Douglass.

"I think it's fair to say that both are going to need to take a step up to go to the next level but they both have the ability to do it."

With this year's Inter Dominion series being run in New South Wales the temptation was to give the horses an early chance to test themselves but Douglass believes the right decision was made by the connections to give them another twelve months before taking on the best in Australasia.

"It would have been very easy for the owners of the two horses to throw in a nomination and Ian (Wilson) left the decision up to them but in the end after speaking with Ian a decision was made to miss this year and maybe look at next year's series in Christchurch."

"I think it would have been a little bit soon because they are both still learning and I hope that they can both make it next year."

Both Rockets Reject and Ben Junior will compete on Sunday at Tabcorp Park in supporting races and Douglass thinks they can run good races and be hard to beat.

"Everything is really good with Rockets Reject and he has been working very well since winning at Harold Park just over a week ago. Before the draw came out I thought it was important that we drew inside Vegas Bound after his good win at Newcastle and I couldn't be happier with gate three."

"The draw hasn't been as kind to Ben Junior in his race but I think there is still some improvement in him and that's why he raced at Harold Park last Friday night. He needed to get a few runs under his belt because he probably did a little too well during his break."

Rockets Reject will compete in the Weona Warrior Championship Final and Douglass isn't afraid to take the horse to the lead should he be presented with it.

"He's only had five starts this time in and he has only led once so if I can lead on Sunday I would be happy to but he is very versatile. I was very impressed when he won at Canberra and had to sit outside Royal Surprise. The final half was very quick and Royal Surprise has won two at Harold Park since so the form has been stamped."
"He's always had really good speed but his last spell did him the world of good because he is a lot stronger now than he was."

The Smooth Satin Final will see Ben Junior take on a number of horses that are in form after qualifying in heats run at Harold Park and Newcastle.

"It's a strong race and there is plenty of depth. We also have International Playboy in that race and while it took him a while to settle in when he first arrived from New Zealand he is learning more each start. He is only four years old and hopefully he is good enough to target a race like the Chariots Of Fire."

Douglass is unsure whether Rockets Reject and Ben Junior will head to Queensland for the winter carnival.

"I'm not sure at this stage and while Ben Junior finished third in the Chariots Of Fire last season we have nursed Rockets Reject through and it wouldn't be right to get to this stage and just dump him into the deep end. So we will wait and see but I think the four and five year old championship at Dubbo might be a good target."

The finals of the Weona Warrior and Smooth Satin Championships are races nine and ten respectively at Tabcorp Park Menangle on Sunday. The Watpac Inter Dominion Grand Final is race eight and will start at 5pm.

KARLOO MICK OFF TO THE SPELLING PADDOCK AND OUT OF CONSOLATION

The nine year old warrior Karloo Mick won't remember what a paddock look likes according to his trainer Barry Lew. The gelding has been scratched from Sunday's Watpac Inter Dominion Consolation and will spell for at least two months.

"I think he deserves a good break" Lew said.

"He has had a week off here and a week off there but he hasn't had a good spell since he was a four year old so I think he is entitled to a good rest now that he is nine."

Lew considered scratching Karloo Mick from the Inter Dominion series after his below par effort on night one of the series at Harold Park.

"I thought about scratching him but physically there is nothing wrong with him. It was more of a mental thing with him because he has had such a long campaign so I freshened him right up on the beach and while he went better at Newcastle he still didn't go as well as he can."

"After having the two or three month break I will bring him back slowly and I would love to aim him up at the Grand Circuit again starting in Brisbane later in the year but if he doesn't come back as a ten year old so be it. It's been a great ride and I have enjoyed every minute of it."

The Inter Dominion Consolation is race seven at Tabcorp Park Menangle on Sunday and will start at 4:22pm.