TERTIUM can give Martyn Wane the biggest pay day of his career so far by landing the £60,000 added John Smith's Magnet Cup at York today.
The Richmond trainer has not been a name constantly in the news but he has shown by his handling of the four year old that given the right tools he is well up to doing the job.
The Nordico gelding has been in excellent form in 1996, making the frame on all bar one of his seven outings.
After a couple of promising runs, Tertium opened his account for the season when taking a Beverley handicap by a couple of lengths from Clifton Fox in May.
Since then he has acquitted himself with a great deal of credit in defeat, finishing fourth to Migwar in the competitive Zetland Gold Cup over Redcar's 10 furlongs later that month.
He once again showed his suitability for a mile and a quarter when finishing second to ElaAristokrati at Epsom on Vodafone Derby day.
Held up during the early stages, he went to the front over a furlong from home and was just unable to find another gear when collared close home, going down by half a length.
That was a very good effort, particularly as the winner went on to finish an excellent fourth to Halling in the Coral Eclipse Stakes at Sandown a week ago.
He underlined his credentials for this race when finishing second in the Royal Hunt Cup at Royal Ascot.
Ridden at 1lb overweight by Jimmy Fortune he had two and a half lengths to find on the winner at the line, but had a head to spare over the third, Crumpton Hill, who went on to defeat 15 rivals in the Ladbroke Bunbury Cup at Newmarket yesterday.
The return to a mile and a quarter is sure to suit Tertium, and his experience of valuable large field handicaps is definitely an asset.
The 7 to 1 generally on offer is very tempting, and Tertium is napped to show his rivals the way home.
The Listed Foster's Silver Cup Rated Stakes should provide a good opportunity for Celeric to continue his successful summer.
Victorious over course and distance in May, David Morley's four year old then went down by a short head to Corradini, again over course and distance, before gaining a dramatic win in the `Newcastle Brown Ale' Northumherland Plate at the end of last month.
He was beginning to make headway when short of room over two from home, but quickened impressively to take the lead off Snow Princess inside the final furlong and score by three quarters of a length.
Celeric has a sharp turn of foot for a stayer, and will not be inconvenienced by the step back to a mile and three quarters.
Despite shouldering joint top weight of 9st 7lb, Celeric is confidently expected to win again.
At Chester, Jack Berry, out of luck with Mind Games in the July Cup at Newmarket on Thursday, can lift the City Wall Conditions Stakes with Lucky Parkes.
The six year did mare has been a credit to her trainer throughout her career and put in a very fine effort last time when short headed by To The Roof in the valuable Vodac `Dash' Rated Stakes at Epsom, being collared literally in the last stride.
A reproduction of that effort should suffice.
