What a Finish !

Tara Madgwick - Wednesday September 14

What a finish to the three year-old colts and geldings maiden at Sandown with three very promising horses hitting the line locked together and the win grabbed late by Nicconi colt The Deputy.

The Deputy pokes through ion the inside between Yaki Ishi on the fence and Lottwon the outside - image Pat Scala / Racing Photos

Trained by Mick Price and Michael Kent Jr, unraced The Deputy was well fancied in the market and hit the line hard for Ben Melham to charge home between runners and score a short half head win over newly gelded Maurice (Jpn) galloper Yaki Ishi with another first starter in Lottwon a close third.

Advertisement

Yaki Ishi was placed in the Group II VRC Sires Produce Stakes last season and Lottwon was one of the top lots at last year’s Inglis Ready 2 Race Sale when selling to Trilogy Racing for $320,000 so the form from the race may prove strong.

The Deputy had impressed Ben Melham at home, but he was not confident the colt would show to advantage on the soft ground.

“He’s a nice horse and I’ve tried him a few times, but he has struggled on heavy ground, so I was keen to see him here on a bit better surface as he’s given me the feel of a nice horse with a bit of class,” said Melham.

“He’s still very raw, but he’s got a nice future I think.”

The Deputy was a $260,000 Magic Millions purchase, highest priced Nicconi sold in 2021.

A $260,000 Magic Millions purchase for Mick Price Racing from the Newhaven Park draft, The Deputy combines the blood of two Widden Stud sires being by Nicconi from metropolitan winning Sebring mare Enchanting Beauty, a sister to Group I placed Group III winner Scratchy Bottom.

The Deputy was the most expensive yearling sired by Nicconi in 2021 and comes from a quality female family that has produced Group I winners Zabrasive and Cheeky Choice as well as last season’s Champion Australian 3YO Filly Gypsy Goddess.

Nicconi’s champion son and Australian Horse of the Year, Nature Strip is set to resume this Saturday in the Group II ATC The Shorts (1100m) as he looks to defend his Everest crown next month.

Nicconi stands at Widden Stud Victoria this spring at a fee of $22,000.

Advertisment

Race Result - Ladbrokes Mates Mode Mdn Plate 1300m

Sandown-Hillside Track: Soft(5) Time: 1:18.42
1
The Deputy
- 3c Nicconi (AUS) x Enchanting Beauty (AUS) (Sebring (AUS))
Tnr: M Price & M Kent Jnr Rdr: B Melham 58
2
0.1
Yaki Ishi
- 3g Maurice (JPN) x Merlene De Lago (AUS) (Encosta De Lago (AUS))
Tnr: R Griffiths & M De Kock Rdr: Jye McNeil 58
3
0.2
Lottwon
- 3c Belardo (IRE) x Keepabreak (NZ) (Keeper (AUS))
Tnr: Ben Brisbourne Rdr: Craig Williams 58
4
1.9
Dakarai
- 3c Siyouni (FR) x Eldena (FR) (Elusive City (USA))
Tnr: Ms W Kelly Rdr: D Oliver 58
5
3.4
Triggerific
- 3g Tosen Stardom (JPN) x Fantastic Fifi (AUS) (French Deputy (USA))
Tnr: Ms L Tolson & Ms L Proctor Rdr: Matthew Cartwright 56.5
6
3.6
Magarten
- 3g Maurice (JPN) x Tiergarten (AUS) (Street Cry (IRE))
Tnr: Jerome Hunter Rdr: Will Price 56.5
7
4.6
Gator
- 3g Nicconi (AUS) x Florida Keys (AUS) (Sebring (AUS))
Tnr: P G Carey Rdr: Ethan Brown 58
8
7.4
King's Crossing
- 3g Almanzor (FR) x Spiriting (NZ) (Montjeu (IRE))
Tnr: D T O'Brien Rdr: Damian Lane 58
9
7.5
Korolev
- 3g Pariah (AUS) x More Glory (AUS) (More Than Ready (USA))
Tnr: C Maher & D Eustace Rdr: M Zahra 58
10
8.7
Navy Code
- 3g Merchant Navy (AUS) x Jehannedarc (IRE) (Montjeu (IRE))
Tnr: Mark & Levi Kavanagh Rdr: M J Dee 58
11
9.5
Bremen
- 3g Dundeel (NZ) x Matron (NZ) (O'Reilly (NZ))
Tnr: J F Moloney Rdr: Jordan Childs 58
12
10.2
Premium Asset
- 3g Contributer (IRE) x Exquisite Choice (AUS) (Redoute's Choice (AUS))
Tnr: C Maher & D Eustace Rdr: Zac Spain 58
13
11.5
Pound The Rock
- 3c Almanzor (FR) x Luminova (NZ) (Zabeel (NZ))
Tnr: C Maher & D Eustace Rdr: John Allen 58
More Reading...
Dual Group Winner Too Darn Good At Flemington
A dual group winner during the Spring of her 3yo season, talented mare Too Darn Discreet showed an electric turn of foot, charging home over the top of them to win the Melbourne Cup Carnival On Sale (1620m) at Flemington on Saturday.
The Novelist Returns to Form
The very first stakes-winner for his sire Written By when winning the Group III BRC BJ McLachlan Stakes in December 2022, The Novelist made light of the heavy 10 track at Rosehill on Saturday to claim another victory.
Kosciuszko calling Rosehill winner Elson Boy
Dubbo-trained Elson Boy was back in the winner’s circle after a 412-day absence when leading throughout to land the Jockeys Celebration Day Handicap (1400m) at Rosehill in the hands of apprentice William Stanley.
Sliding Doors Moment Delivers Feel Good Winner at Rosehill
Two fillies were born at Yulong in 2021 sired by Alabama Express from imported North American daughters of Street Cry, one of them is triple Group I winner Treasurethe Moment and the other is the feel good winner of the day at Rosehill on Saturday.
Kiwi Bred Keeps Winners Coming for Payne Stable
The Patrick and Michelle Payne-trained Bold Soul has been a consistent performer right through the winter months and notched another win at Flemington when prevailing in the VRC Membership Renewals Open (2530m) on Saturday.
King of Roseau Wins G3 Aurie’s Star
Placed in the Listed VRC Poseidon Stakes at Flemington last spring as a three year-old behind Growing Empire, Capitalist gelding King of Roseau returned to the same venue on Saturday to capture the Group III VRC Aurie’s Star Handicap (1200m).
Sires With Winners - Saturday August 2
Here is the full list of 101 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Winning Hat-Trick for Progressive Pierro
Richard and Will Freedman probably have more talented horses in the stable than Pierro gelding Cold Brew, but few have the consistency of this four year-old who landed a winning hat-trick at Rosehill on Saturday.
Unique Filly a History Maker for Godolphin and Waller
The re-distribution of the Godolphin owned Australian racehorses has been a hot topic in recent weeks as they departed the care of James Cummings to join a wide spread of different trainers and one of those was Chris Waller, whose first runner for the blue army was a winner at Rosehill on Saturday.
Crossbow Takes Aim At Flemington To Score
With quality efforts behind handy horses in his first three starts, trainer Chris Waller crossed the border to Victoria with instant success for the Star Thoroughbreds raced Crossbow, with the well-marked son of Better Than Ready breaking through for an impressive win.