First Winner for Blue-Blood Sire Niconoise

Tara Madgwick - Wednesday January 24
Ponderosa Park blue-blooded stallion Niconoise has got the first winner of his stud career.

Niconoise, a son of Redoute's Choice, is the half-brother of Widden Stud's successful dual Group 1 winning sire Nicconi (Bianconi) as well as the three-quarter brother of multiple Group 1 winning Niconero (Danzero).

NiconoiseThey are all out of the Devitt and Gordon families' star broodmare Nicola Lass.

The first crop sire has had just the one runner so far, the Simon Drewitt trained Gottabiton, and it was that youngster who duly saluted over 1000 metres at Port Lincoln.

The 2YO, ridden by Todd Pannell, sat on the shoulder of the leader throughout much of the race before lengthening stride at the top of the straight and extending for an easy win.

The Ponderosa Park bred juvenile had raced just once previously, in a city class race at Gawler at which he was more than competitive behind the talented Chicago Typewriter.

"I've had a bit of an idea how good he is…today he has lived up to what I thought (about him),"
– was the post race comment by trainer Simon Drewitt who bought him from Ponderosa Park at the 2017 Magic Millions Adelaide Yearling Sale.

Ponderosa Park's Paul Kelly was absolutely thrilled, albeit a little surprised by the win for his stallion.

"We didn't expect many to be starting as two-year-olds so to get an early winner is great," Kelly said.

"He raced at Gawler without a trial and ran a good race.

"Gottabiton was just a real nice type as a yearling. He walked out well. If you were to buy a horse on type, then that was him and that's just what Simon Drewitt did."

Niconoise won four city races from 1100 metres to 1800 metres and currently holds the Flemington 1700 metre Track record. He ran in the Australian Cup the race after breaking this track record, however he suffered a serious leg injury and was subsequently retired.

Notably none of Niconoise, Niconero or Nicconi won as early two-year-olds with only Nicconi scoring as a later season juvenile (in April of his 2YO racing season). All were trained out of Lindsay Park.

Another sibling of the 'Nicos' is the stakes placed Holly Go Lightly. She now calls Ponderosa Park home and is in foal to Spendthrift Farm sire Jimmy Creed.

The Nathalia (north east Victoria) based Niconoise had seventeen live foals out of his first crop mostly bred by smaller, local breeders who Kelly expects to be very patient with the progeny.

The sire covered thirteen mares in the 2017 breeding season, a number sure to be bigger in 2018 should there be more youngsters like Gottabiton seen at the tracks.

News from TBV



Advertisment
More Reading...
Inglis Ready2Race Sale Now Online
The strongest collection of sire power ever assembled for an Australian 2YO Sale will be offered at the Inglis Ready2Race Sale, for which the catalogue is now available online.
First Southern Hemisphere foals for Paddington
A four-time Group I winner by champion French sire Siyouni, European superstar, PADDINGTON, has had his first Southern Hemisphere foals arrive on the ground at Windsor Park.
Sires With Winners - Sunday August 24
Here is the full list of 67 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Top Filly Beats Top Colt in G1 Prix Morny
The Group I Prix Morny (1200m) at Deauville overnight produced a mightly clash between unbeaten Starspangled banner colt Gstaad and unbeaten filly Venetian Sun with the filly prevailing, although Starspangledbanner got some consolation with a new G3 winning 2YO at Goodwood.
Hard To Cross swoops to Valley win
Six-year-old gelding Hard To Cross was aided by the three-kilo claim of Rose Hammond as the Kiwi bred landed his first victory of the preparation when landing the Ascend Sales Trophies Handicap (1523m).
Niconoise, Victoria's Best Kept Secret
Based on recent trends of winners in Melbourne, Niconoise may be the Victorian stallion roster’s best-kept secret.
Idyllic Prince Stakes - Phanta Leads a Sweet Trifecta for Gingerbread Man
Yarradale Stud's senior stallion Gingerbread Man achieved a rare career high for any sire when the son of Shamardal provided the trifecta in Saturday's Listed Idyllic Prince Stakes over 1300m at Belmont Park.
Merchant Navy 3YO Primed for Spring Stakes Campaign
Cody Cole is happy to play a waiting game with Landlock before confirming the three-year-old’s main goals for the season.
Narrow Miss for Hellbent Gelding in G2 Foxbridge
Lhasa proved he is more than a synthetic track specialist when he nearly caused an upset when finishing runner-up in Saturday’s Gr.2 Foxbridge Plate (1200m) at Te Rapa.
Bates gets creative at The Valley
Six-year-old gelding The Creator led throughout to claim the Ladbrokes Top 2/3/4 Betting Handicap (1600m) at The Valley on Saturday under a perfect Logan Bates ride.