Tony Nicconi Wins G3 Vain

Tara Madgwick - Saturday August 18
Nature Strip might not be the only star sprinter for Widden Stud's Nicconi this spring with progressive colt Tony Nicconi confirming his potential with a tenacious win in the Group III MRC Vain stakes at Caulfield on Saturday.



A dazzling debut winner at Caulfield on June 30, the Hayes / Dabernig trained colt was stepping up sharply in class for this 1100 metre sprint and taking on some classy types including his proven stakes-winning stablemate Long Leaf.

Partnered by Luke Nolen as he was on debut, Tony Nicconi went forward from his wide gate in the field of 10 and had enough left at the finish to hold off the fast finishing Long Leaf to win by a long neck..

Tony Nicconi - images Grant Courtney"He was up in grade and quickened nicely. When you take into account the stiff head breeze and his inexperience it adds quite a bit to the win," said Nolen.

"He makes my job easy."

Co-trainer David Hayes was delighted with the performance and that of his stablemate Long Leaf.

"There's a lot of improvement in him and Long Leaf was terrific too. He's put his hand up for the Golden Rose and Caulfield Guineas, while the other horse will stick to the sprints aiming towards the Coolmore Stud Stakes (Group I)," he said.

A homebred for Peter Devitt and the Gordon family, who also bred and raced his sire Nicconi, Tony Nicconi is the fourth winner from Elusive Quality (UA) mare Wickham. She comes from the family of US Group I winner Gomo. Wickham was covered again by Nicconi last spring.

Tony Nicconi is the 17th stakes-winner for Nicconi, who had a great last season with over 100 winners of $5.7 million in prizemoney and stands at a fee of $24,750 this spring.


Advertisment
More Reading...
Better Than Ready’s Metalart Wins Group 3 W J Healy Stakes
Improving off a third in the Listed Lightning Handicap at Eagle Farm recently, 4yo Better Than Ready gelding Metalart stepped up to 1200m to record his first black type success, winning the Group 3 W J Healy Stakes.
Private Eye’s Half-Brother King’s Secret Wins Again
Although he may never reach the heights of his older half-brother Private Eye, a Group 1 winner and earner of more than $12m to date, connections of King’s Secret (Shalaa) are sure to have plenty of their own fun with the 3yo gelding winning at Rosehill on Saturday.
Tattersall’s Mile For The Inflictor - Under The Louvre’s Second SW
Third at Listed level before winning at Doomben, the Craig Cousins-trained The Inflictor (Under The Louvre) then tackled the Group 1 Stradbroke Handicap, and while not in the same league as winner War Wachine (Harry Angel), the 4yo gelding showed his class on Saturday to win the Listed BRC Tattersall’s Mile (1600m) at Eagle Farm.
Almanzor Stayer wins G3 Tattersalls Cup
It's been a long time since the  2022 Victoria Derby and some may have wondered whether the winner Manzoice was ever going to win again!
Aussie 2YO SW for Tivaci
New Zealand-bred colt Matahga stamped himself as an exciting spring three-year-old prospect with a hard-fought victory in the A$120,000 Listed David Peacock Oaklands Plate (1400m) at Morphettville on Saturday.
Super Seth 3YO Salutes for Baker
A tenacious front-running performance in Saturday’s A$160,000 Captivant @ Kia Ora Handicap (1400m) at Rosehill added a first city victory to Puntin’s burgeoning record.
Another Aussie SW Sourced from Aga Khan Studs
When Australian investors buy tried horses out of Europe from Aga Khan Studs they know they are getting quality, but the good ones don’t come cheap with Elamaz (IRE) sourced from their draft at the Arqana Arc Sale last year for €480,000.
Miss Joelene Achieves Millionaire Status
This time last year, Miss Joelene was highlighting herself as one to watch for the future, having placed in the Group 2 The Roses and the Group 1 Queensland Oaks, and after a few runs behind the outstanding Antino (Redwood) this time in, a class drop on Saturday saw her record victory in the $200,000 Listed BRC Tattersall’s Gold Crown (2100m) at Eagle Farm.
Corumbene Stud Homebred Tashi Wins G1 Tatts Tiara
From the last crop of foals sired by Widden Stud’s much missed Golden Slipper winning sire Sebring, five year-old mare Tashi may also be his final Group I winner as she produced a career best performance at Eagle Farm on Saturday to win the $700,000 Group I Tatts Tiara (1400m).
No Fluke – How Good is Autumn Boy?
When Autumn Boy made a winning debut at 50-1 at Canterbury last month beating his high profile stablemate Central Coast, some may have wondered if there was an element of fluke about the win… there wasn’t.