Nuclear Noon ready for Ziadie Memorial

NUCLEAR NOON should be fighting fit for Sunday’s Millard Ziadie Memorial after his Ash Wednesday Trophy third-place run behind EMPEROROFTHECARS and MONEY MONSTER, dragged into torrid splits by the winner before being overhauled a half-furlong out by the runner-up.

Three brave races in defeat this season, following an eight-month lay-up, which caused him to miss most of last year, has NUCLEAR NOON champing at the bit for the right trip and company. However, he bit off more than he could chew in the Ash Wednesday, allowing EMPEROROFTHECATS eight pounds, with no assistance to take the speedster off his bridle.

EMPEROROFTHECATS had his way on the lead, cracking splits of 23.3, 46.4, 58.2 and a crippling 1:11.4, which left NUCLEAR NOON winded after making a bid off the home turn, resulting in MONEY MONSTER closing to claim second spot.

In his previous race, the George HoSang Trophy, NUCLEAR NOON ran into distance-specialist YELLOWSTONE on January 29, challenging the in-form runner throughout the stretch run, losing by a length and a half behind 1:07.2.

Cutting back to the distance of his George HoSang loss, NUCLEAR NOON will be far more comfortable among familiar foes such as BIG BIG DADDY, TAURUS BOY and EAGLE ONE, who he had behind him last time out.

EAGLE ONE tried going with EMPEROROFTHECATS in the Ash Wednesday but was left behind at the half-mile marker before being circled by NUCLEAR NOON coming off the home turn. BIG BIG DADDY also tried to get into the sped mix but his limitations were exposed early when the pace quickened.

NUCLEAR NOON is not too heavy to stalk EAGLE ONE before injecting superior pace, which should hand him a clear lead early in the stretch run.