Group One Sprinter in the Making

Tara Madgwick - Sunday June 24
The one thing missing on the resume of Widden Stud's quiet achiever Nicconi is a Group I winner, but that looks certain to change next season when we see the best of Nature Strip.

Nature Strip - image Grant CourtneyHaving his first start for new trainer Darren Weir at Flemington on Saturday, brilliant three year-old Nature Strip lugged 60.5 kg to a scintillating four and a half length win in the open three year-old event over 1100 metres.

He hit the wire in a time of 1:02.26. That was just 0.11s outside the 1100-metre course record set by Loveyamadly in 2013 when she raced on a Good 3, while Nature Strip raced on a Soft 5.

Weir has only had the horse six weeks after early stints with Caulfield trainers Robert Smerdon, Robert Hickmott and John Sadler and thanked those trainers for shaping a ready-made star.

"They did all the hard work on this horse and then he came to me," Weir said. "I got the horse at the right time. I haven't improved him. He's just a really good horse.

"It looked like he was playing with them and enjoying it so that's a really good sign.

"I just wanted to see him do it because there's such a hype on him. Jarrod (McLean) who I regard as a great mate and great for my stable, he said 'He's a machine'.

Nicconi"He works with all my good horses and he knows them and he said 'Well, this one's a beauty'."

Passed in at the 2016 Inglis Premier Yearling Sale, where he was offered by Golden Grove Stud, Nature Strip has now won five of eight starts earning over $400,000 in prizemoney.

Bred by Golden Grove, Nature Strip is a half-brother to stakes-winner The Barrister from Group III winning Desert Sun (GB) mare Strikeline.

Nicconi covered 200 plus books of mares in his past two seasons and has had a fee rise this spring to $24,750 and is filling fast.

Widden based sires found Flemington a happy hunting ground on Saturday with smart Sebring two year-old Good 'n' Fast taking out the juvenile event and classy Star Witness stayer Lycurgus scoring his sixth win to lift his prizemoney total in excess of $380,000.


Advertisment
More Reading...
Tarzino Stayer Wins G3 Geelong Cup
Trainer Paul Preusker will get another tilt at a Gr.1 Melbourne Cup (3200m) after Torranzino ran out a strong winner of the Gr.3 Geelong Cup (2400m) on Thursday.
2025 G1 Spring Champion – Pedigree Preview
A lot of attention is paid to the sprinting three year-old division and much less so to the stayers, but with $2million in prizemoney the Group I ATC Spring Champion Stakes (2000m) at Randwick on Saturday has attracted a full field of 14 and all of them are on trial at the trip.
End Of An Era - 2025 G1 Cox Plate
“There are many ways of going forward, but only one way of standing still” - Franklin D Roosevelt.
One to Watch – Mornington
In Cox Plate week it only seems fitting that the 2013 winner Shamus Award would give us a ‘One to Watch’ at Mornington on Thursday.
$140,000 NZB Ready to Run Graduate Books Ticket to G1 Victoria Derby
Bred for stamina being by Melbourne Cup winner Shoicking from a daughter of Tavistock, talented Kiwi bred three-year-old Azazel has booked his passage for the Gr.1 VRC Derby (2500m) on Saturday week after a tough victory in the Listed Roderick Insurance Brokers 3YO Geelong Classic (2200m) at Geelong on Thursday.
One To Watch – Belmont
We look far and wide to highlight Breednet’s ‘One To Watch’ and today’s winner of the first race at Belmont, 3yo D’Argento filly Ladies Pro, won in the manner of a horse with a nice future and in the process shone a spotlight on her sire who recorded his ninth winner so far this month.
Sires With Winners - Thursday October 23
Here is the full list of 26 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Sires With Winners - Wednesday October 22
Here is the full list of 37 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
$400,000 Invincible Filly a Grand Investment
A three-quarter sister-in-blood to dual Group I winning mare Charm Stone, stakes-placed I Am Invincible filly Naifah always looked well bought at the 2025 Magic Millions National Broodmare Sale for $400,000.
Bold Showing Tipped for Yes Yes Yes 2YO
Speed Demon will be given every opportunity to live up to his name when he makes his debut at Ellerslie.