Derby Contender for Nicconi

Tara Madgwick - Saturday May 15

Widden Stud’s perennial favourite Nicconi might be best known for siring champion sprinter Nature Strip, but he has more strings to his bow and showed it when unheralded three year-old Criminal Defence scored a bold win in the Group III BRC Rough Habit Plate (2000m) at Doomben on Saturday.

Trained by Peter and Will Hulbert, Criminal Defence was friendless in betting with only one win in his previous 10 starts, but he relished the step up in trip to race on the pace and forge clear to win by a length under Michael Rodd.
 


I’ve told everyone that would listen that he was a Derby horse,” said Will Hulbert.

“He’s not bred to stay, but he looks like a stayer and races like a stayer, so we thought we’ll have a crack, we’re going to the Derby!”

Bred by Gainsborough Lodge, Criminal Defence passed in at Inglis Classic as a yearling and has now won over $180,000 in prizemoney.

Criminal Defence passed in at Inglis Classic.

He is the second foal and first winner from Red’s Image, who was bought by Gainsborough Lodge for $22,000 at the Inglis Broodmare Sale in 2017 when she was in foal to Nicconi with Criminal Defence the result.

An unraced daughter of Dehere (USA), Red’s Image comes from a North American female family and has a 3 x 3 double cross of the mighty champion Secretariat, who probably explains her name and also the stamina shown by Criminal Defence.



Red’s Image has not had a foal since Criminal Defence was born.

Nicconi stands at Widden Stud Victoria this spring at a fee of $27,500.

Criminal Defence is the 22nd stakes-winner for Nicconi, who also sired three year-old filly Nicci’s Fling to finish second in the $300,000 Inglis Guineas at Rosehill.

He stands at Widden stud Victoria this spring at a fee of $27,500.



 

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Race Result - Rough Habit Plate Gr3 2000m

Doomben Track: Soft(6) Time: 2:07.57
1
Criminal Defence
- 3g Nicconi (AUS) x Red's Image (AUS) (Dehere (USA))
Tnr: P & W Hulbert Rdr: M Rodd 57
Nicconi
2
1.0
Kukeracha
- 3g Night Of Thunder (IRE) x Portrait Of A Lady (USA) (A.P. Indy (USA))
Tnr: C J Waller Rdr: L R Dittman 57
3
1.5
Senor Toba
- 3g Toronado (IRE) x Bahamas (AUS) (Teofilo (IRE))
Tnr: C J Waller Rdr: J B Mc Donald 57
4
1.7
Bucharest
- 3c Deep Impact (JPN) x Miss Finland (AUS) (Redoute's Choice (AUS))
Tnr: C J Waller Rdr: K Mc Evoy 57
5
1.9
Toscanini
- 3c Fastnet Rock (AUS) x Soubrettes (NZ) (High Chaparral (IRE))
Tnr: C Maher & D Eustace Rdr: R Fradd 57
6
2.1
High Supremacy
- 3g Savabeel (AUS) x Lady Chaparral (NZ) (High Chaparral (IRE))
Tnr: R & M Freedman Rdr: N Rawiller 57
7
3.1
Khoekhoe
- 3c Turffontein (AUS) x Walvis Bay (NZ) (Cape Cross (IRE))
Tnr: Matthew Cumani Rdr: Justin Huxtable 57
8
6.8
Calm Seeker
- 3c Complacent (AUS) x Attention Seeker (NZ) (Fast 'n' Famous (AUS))
Tnr: M A Kropp Rdr: L V Cassidy 57
9
9.3
Yangtze Rapids
- 3g Frankel (GB) x Kahara River (IRE) (Bushranger (IRE))
Tnr: C J Waller Rdr: J Byrne 57
10
14.3
Bold Executive
- 3g Top Echelon (AUS) x Showellen (AUS) (Show A Heart (AUS))
Tnr: G K Taylor Rdr: R Wiggins 57
11
19.6
Sagacious
- 3g Foxwedge (AUS) x Vecchia Roma (AUS) (Testa Rossa (AUS))
Tnr: M J Dunn Rdr: J Parr 57
12
20.6
Bahamut
- 3c Real Impact (JPN) x Bambolear (AUS) (Redoute's Choice (AUS))
Tnr: D Chujo Rdr: Noriyuki Masuda 57
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