Nolen gets to know Kaspersky at Werribee

Luke Nolen has given English galloper Kaspersky a work gallop ahead of the Toorak Handicap.

Any information a jockey can get about a horse before a Group One race can only be beneficial.

Luke Nolen has taken the opportunity to get to know his Toorak Handicap mount Kaspersky in a workout at Werribee on Thursday morning ahead of Saturday’s 1600m race.

Nolen picked up the ride on the Jane Chapple-Hyam-trained galloper on Wednesday after Michelle Payne ruled herself out through illness.

Payne rode Kaspersky at the Royal Ascot meeting in June and was booked to ride him at this year’s Melbourne spring carnival.

But the 2015 Melbourne Cup winning jockey missed riding Kaspersky in trackwork on Sunday and again on Wednesday morning before ruling herself out of Saturday’s meeting.

An association going back to a trip to Royal Ascot in 2012 with Black Caviar secured Nolen the ride on Kaspersky.

Black Caviar was stabled at Chapple-Hyam’s Newmarket yard for her trip.

Nolen said it was important to get an understanding of Kaspersky’s idiosyncrasies and character.

“I got a feel for all that today, so that was good,” Nolen said.

“They’ve all got four legs and a tail and they don’t differ greatly, but they have little subtleties in their make-up.

“But he’s pretty straightforward.”

Nolen said it was pleased to get the call up, although he knows he’s only warming the seat for Payne until she overcomes her illness.

He said he hoped to be able to take advantage of Kaspersky’s barrier three.

With a quiet day on Friday, Nolen will study replays of Kaspersky’s races, joking that if he looked at them any earlier he would forget what he saw come race time.

Kaspersky wasn’t out to break the clock on Thursday with Nolen saying he was asked to open the horses lungs and stretch his legs.

“He did all that and kept both Jane and myself happy,” Nolen said.

“I’m looking forward to Saturday.”