Nikau Spur’s part-owner Grant Goodrum hopes he can get his evergreen gelding into the 2025 Melbourne Cup

The eight-year-old has been nominated for two 1350m races – at Doomben and also Ipswich on Thursday – but trainers Kylie and Corey Geran are leaning towards running him in the rescheduled 10-card meeting in Brisbane after torrential rain washed out Saturday’s card.

Nikau Spur hasn’t raced since December 28 when he placed third in the Shoot Out Quality (2100m) at Eagle Farm.

TAB has posted him as a $26 chance in Tuesday’s Open Handicap (1350m), with Space Tracker the favourite at $5 ahead of Hatchet ($6.50).

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Nikau Spur’s grand final this winter carnival will be the $400,000 Group 2 Brisbane Cup (3200m) at Eagle Farm on June 14 which will determine whether connections push to secure a coveted spot in the race that stops a nation on the first Tuesday of November.

“If he can run the 3200m we’ll probably nominate him for the Melbourne Cup and see if he can get it,” Goodrum, of GG Racing, said about the former Kiwi galloper affectionately known as ‘Ronnie’.

“The Brisbane Cup is the biggest hurdle. If he can do that then the Melbourne Cup will be our plan in the spring for him.

“He’s run 2400m very well and he’s the type of horse that settles so well.

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“He’s just a genuine stayer now. Tim Clark, who’s ridden him a couple of times, and Mark Du Plessis say he switches off so well now.

“When you press the button on him it doesn’t really matter whether you’ve gone 2400m or 2000m, he just seems to find that explosive last furlong.

“We’re really hoping in a 3200m race where he can just mosey along at his own pace and then have that explosive speed left in him, he should be highly competitive.”

Nikau Spur provided the Gerans with their first stakes success when he won the Listed Queensland Cup (2400m) at Eagle Farm in October.

He then produced the biggest victory from his 42 races (nine wins) for the Toowoomba trainers in the $300,000 Listed Beauford at Newcastle in November, beating a quality field over 2300m.

An impressive third in the Listed Christmas Cup (2400m) at Randwick on December 14 stamped Nikau Spur’s credentials as a star stayer.

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“He turns nine this year but he continues to absolutely thrive,” Geran said about the gelding formerly trained by Ciaron Maher in Victoria.

“The older he gets, the better he seems to be racing. He’s in very good order and he’s going equally as good as his last prep, if not better. He’s unreal.”

GG Racing just bought a full sister to Nikau Spur, an unraced three-year-old filly called I’m So Elegant, from Maher for a bargain price of $1250.

“I had my balaclava on that day,” Goodrum joked. “If she’s half as good as him (Nikau Spur) we’ll be laughing.”

Originally published as Nikau Spur’s part-owner Grant Goodrum hopes he can get his evergreen gelding into the 2025 Melbourne Cup