By Mark Oberhardt

BRISBANE, Dec 5 AAP - Trainer Kelso Wood has compared Nikitas to his retired Group One winner Sizzling.

A month ago Wood was in the doldrums after his main Magic Millions 2YO Classic hopeful Criquette broke down.

Criquette had been among the Magic Millions favourites after an easy Doomben win.

However, Nikitas proved himself a ready-made replacement when he led all the way to beat Mishani Silva ($8) by 4-3/4 lengths in the Canadian Club Handicap at Doomben on Saturday.

Nikitas, who is a half-brother to VRC Oaks winner Jameka, will have his next start in the BJ McLachlan Stakes at the Gold Coast on Boxing Day before pushing on to the Magic Millions 2YO Classic on January 9.

Wood said he had a high opinion of both Nikitas and Criquette.

"Nikitas is a very good horse. We didn't want to lead with him today and hoped from the wide barrier he could get in to two or three back behind the pace."

"But Michael (jockey Cahill) went to the lead and he was just too good for them," Wood said.

He said while Criquette was a genuine speed horse, Nikitas reminded him of Sizzling.

"I think he will eventually be more of a 1600-metre horse," Wood said.

Nikitas, who started favourite at $2.50, is owned by a syndicate including Sizzling's owners David Devine and Neville Morgan who paid $280,000 for him as a yearling.