Kalik to dodge top two-year-olds

Impressive recent midweek winner Kalik heads to Doomben in an effort to dodge the better two-year-olds bound for Brisbane over the winter carnival.

Kalik scored a dynamic midweek win at Ipswich by 4-1/2 lengths two weeks ago.

Owner Neville Bell is keen to get a Saturday metropolitan win with Kalik because he bred the gelding who has the bloodlines of a middle distance horse.

Kalik is by Champions Gallery who Bell stood at his Kilto Park complex before retiring him to Lyndhurst Stud where he covers some non-thoroughbred mares.

Bell bought Kalik's dam Nuskee at the National Broodmare Sale so the gelding is a home-bred.

"Tony (trainer Haydon) has done a really good job with Kalik who has really come on this campaign," Bell said.

"He won a trial in good fashion at Doomben and carried that form on with his Ipswich win.

"Kalik had plenty in hand at the finish and I think he is up to city class."

Bell said Kalik would probably be even better as a three-year-old over more ground.

"Obviously we would like a Saturday win but we had better get in before the southern horses arrive for the winter races," Bell said.

"I think the two and three-year-old races this winter will be very strong."