Hickman pair poised for home track success

Tuesday 28 January 2014, 2:27pm

Groundwork done on the provincial circuit could translate to city success for two of Greg Hickman's team at Warwick Farm on Wednesday.

Hickman will saddle up the Gerry Harvey-owned I Wrote The Book in the TAB iPad App Plate (1400m) and Darley cast-off Lyric in the TAB Rewards Handicap (1100m).

Both come to their home track with strong provincial form lines, Lyric having won his past two starts and I Wrote The Book off a narrow last-start second at Gosford.

Hickman feels the filly is ready for a city test following three provincial runs designed to help her learn her trade.

"I've kept her to shorter distances so she could learn how to be a racehorse and do everything right," Hickman said.

"Looking at her now, she's bred to get over a bit of ground. Her third dam is Research so I'm going to step her up and see where go."

Research won the AJC Australian Derby along with the VRC and AJC Australian Oaks during a stellar three-year-old season in 1988-89 for which she was named Horse of the Year.

While I Wrote The Book might not reach such heights, Hickman is keen to give her the opportunity to stake a claim for the fillies' distance races during the autumn.

"They're only three-year-olds once and there are the better-type of races coming up," Hickman said.

"I'm not saying she's good enough to do that but you've got to give her a chance."

I Wrote The Book steps up 200 metres to 1400m and while she has an awkward draw in gate 12 it will be offset by the booking of Nash Rawiller.

Hickman has secured another of Sydney's top riders, Tommy Berry, for Lyric.

The gelding is in his second campaign for the Warwick Farm trainer having done his early racing under Darley's Peter Snowden.

The four-year-old mixed his form last preparation but appears to have returned in great heart with successive wins at Wyong and Gosford.

"We've learned a bit about each other," Hickman said.

"His runs have been good and his last run was even better. I thought they'd go a hundred miles an hour but it didn't happen and he had to come through the field which he doesn't like doing.

"Hopefully he will become better at that with more racing."

Lyric has drawn gate five and will chase his third consecutive win over 1100 metres.

– AAP

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