Niance Overcomes Serious Injury to Claim Stakes Victory

Media Release - Saturday May 31

Exciting New Zealand-bred mare Niance has bounced back from a serious injury and picked up right where she left off last spring, collecting her third consecutive black-type win in Saturday’s A$175,000 Listed Bel Esprit Stakes (1100m) at Caulfield.

The five-year-old Swiss Ace mare has now had 11 starts for seven wins, a placing, and A$449,467 in prize-money. She announced her arrival on the big stage in Melbourne last spring with victories in the Listed Alinghi Stakes (1100m) in October and Gr.3 How Now Stakes (1200m) in November – both at Caulfield.

Niance winning the Bel Esprit Stakes at Caulfield. Photo: George Sal (Racing Photos)

However, she later cracked her skull in a paddock accident and underwent surgery to remove bone fragments.

Nursed back to health by Cranbourne trainer Grahame Begg and his staff, Niance made a welcome return to racing on Saturday after 196 days on the sidelines. The Bel Esprit proved to be a triumphant comeback and improved her Caulfield record to three starts for three stakes wins.

“Look, she’s a gun,” Begg said. “She never knows how to run a bad race.

“She’s come back from a significant injury, where she cracked her skull and had to have surgery to remove some bone fragments. There’s a lot of people to thank for getting her through that, from the vets to the staff at home. We just took care of her, and it’s amazing to see her bounce back from that.

“She hasn’t missed a beat since we got her back into full training. She gave us every indication that she’d prepared well for this, which looked like an ideal first-up race. Daniel Moor gave her a great ride.

“I’m sure there’s better things in store for her. There’s a possibility she may go to Queensland for the Healy Stakes (Gr.3, 1200m, June 28), but that might be a bit iffy with the weather in Queensland at the moment. The Heath (Gr.3, 1100m) here at Caulfield in August could be another option, and then go from there.”

Niance was sent out as a $2.40 favourite on Saturday and never really provided a moment’s doubt. She travelled sweetly in fifth, out wide but with cover.

Advertisement

Moor still had her under a hold as she rounded the turn breathing down the necks of the leaders, and she pounced at the 300m mark.

Niance dashed to the lead and quickly put the result beyond doubt, going on to win by three-quarters of a length from Cleo Cat and Aviatress.

“She’s beautiful,” Moor said. “She’s not a huge horse, but has a great length of stride. Grahame and I weren’t worried about the prospect of being out wide with her today, it was just a matter of keeping her balanced and in her rhythm.

“Then I was just waiting to press the button. We know how good she is, but being first-up after a long break, I didn’t want to be hitting the front 400m from home. Within a couple of strides, we went from two lengths off them to right alongside them. I just wanted her to harness that the right way and then get her to let rip at the right time.”

Niance began her career in the care of Shaun and Emma Clotworthy, for whom she was a winner and a placegetter from four starts in New Zealand before Phill Cataldo negotiated a private sale for clients Ace Bloodstock.

Begg took his time with the mare when she first crossed the Tasman, with 12 months between her final run in New Zealand and her Australian debut victory at Pakenham in February this year.

Niance was bred by Gerry Harvey and is by his Westbury Stud stallion Swiss Ace out of the Red Giant mare Cosmetic. Second dam Renovated is a half-sister to the Australian Group winners Alma’s Fury and Enforced. – NZ Racing Desk.

Advertisment

Race Result - Sportsbet Bel Esprit Stakes LR 1100m

Caulfield Track: Good(4) Time: 1:03.01
1
Niance
- 5m Swiss Ace (AUS) x Cosmetic (NZ) (Red Giant (USA))
Tnr: G M Begg Rdr: D Moor 55.5
2
0.8
Cleo Cat
- 4m American Pharoah (USA) x Angel Face (AUS) (Fastnet Rock (AUS))
Tnr: Tom Dabernig Rdr: Beau Mertens 54
3
0.9
Aviatress
- 4m Smart Missile (AUS) x Twin Star Rocket (AUS) (Bel Esprit (AUS))
Tnr: R & C Jolly Rdr: Zac Spain 56
Smart Missile
4
1.1
Watchme Win
- 4g Harry Angel (IRE) x Watchmespin (AUS) (Sepoy (AUS))
Tnr: A J Gluyas Rdr: Ms J Kennedy 54
5
2.3
Title Fighter
- 4g Lean Mean Machine (AUS) x If Not Now When (AUS) (Artie Schiller (USA))
Tnr: Clayton Douglas Rdr: Tom Prebble 57
6
2.6
Recommendation
- 5g Shalaa (IRE) x Adviso (USA) (Street Cry (IRE))
Tnr: C Maher Rdr: Ben Allen 60
7
2.9
Acromantula
- 7g Written Tycoon (AUS) x For Your Eyes Only (AUS) (Bletchley Park (IRE))
Tnr: Ben, Will & Jd Hayes Rdr: Celine Gaudray 55.5
8
3.2
Twin Perfection
- 6g Nicconi (AUS) x Miss Twin Peaks (AUS) (Stravinsky (USA))
Tnr: P Stokes Rdr: Lachlan Neindorf 54
9
3.2
Midwest
- 6g Zoustar (AUS) x Umgeton (AUS) (Stratum (AUS))
Tnr: A & S Freedman Rdr: Jye McNeil 56.5
10
4
Extremely Lucky
- 6g Extreme Choice (AUS) x Tamarind Lane (AUS) (Stratum (AUS))
Tnr: W Clarken & N O'Shea Rdr: Luke Cartwright 54.5
11
5
Curran
- 7g Night Of Thunder (IRE) x Tramell (AUS) (Street Cry (IRE))
Tnr: Ms L Tolson & Ms L Proctor Rdr: Matthew Cartwright 54.5
12
5.4
Port Albert
- 5g Sooboog (AUS) x Ballychine (NZ) (O'reilly (NZ))
Tnr: Nick Ryan Rdr: D Yendall 54
13
10.9
Fickle
- 4m I Am Invincible (AUS) x Flippant (AUS) (Hinchinbrook (AUS))
Tnr: Tom Dabernig Rdr: Declan Bates 54
More Reading...
Last to First – He’s Seriously Hot!
Sent to the paddock after just one placing from five starts at two that included three attempts in stakes company, Siriusly Hot returned a gelding at Randwick and it certainly made a difference!
Kiwi Bred Niance wins Listed Alinghi
Talented mare Niance landed some valuable black-type for connections when prevailing in the Listed Alinghi Stakes (1100m) at Caulfield on Saturday.
Al Riffa Aiming Towards Melbourne Cup for Australian Bloodstock
The exceptional qualities of Coolmore shuttler Wootton Bassett (GB) are such that he can get fast juveniles and also high class older horses over a distance and we are set to see a taste of it this spring as media reports suggest Australian Bloodstock have purchased his top class 5YO stallion Al Riffa.
Coolmore Stallion Parade – A to Z-Catch Up on What You Might Have Missed!
The annual Coolmore Australia stallion parade is one you just can’t miss and if you didn’t make it this year, do read on as you will feel like you were there after all!
Wootton Bassett Colt Salutes at Sandown
Overdue for a win, talented Wootton Bassett (GB) colt Yamashita’s Gold shook off maiden status with a determined victory at Sandown on Wednesday for the Gavid Bedggood stable.
Finding the Perfect Match for Your Mare
Now that the first foals of the season have hit the ground at farms across the country, breeders are finalising stallion bookings and searching for the perfect match for their mares.
Trial Winner for Captivant
Captivant’s early promise was on full display at today’s Waipa trials when Capital Express stormed to victory in Heat 4. The Paul Pertab-trained 2YO colt impressed early, showcasing the speed and class expected of his G1 Champagne Stakes-winning sire in a performance that marked him as one to watch.
Too Darn Hot nomination realises $255,000 in August (Late) Sale
A nomination in exceptional young stallion Too Darn Hot has topped today’s Inglis Digital August (Late) Online Sale, selling for $255,000.
Sires With Winners - Tuesday August 26
Here is the full list of 28 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Hello Youmzain Filly Chasing More Stakes Success
Hello Youmzain (Fr) filly Platinum Diamond will put her undefeated Heavy track record on the line when she heads to Wanganui on Saturday to contest the Listed HS Dyke Wanganui Guineas (1200m).