One To Watch - Bendigo

Mark Smith - Sunday August 13

Some promising types contested Sunday's Jayco SV 3YO Maiden Plate (1300m), which makes the dominant winner Illumicon one to follow.

With three seconds from as many starts, Crystal Spirit was an important benchmark in this race but the son of Bel Esprit had no answer to the finishing burst of the Nicconi colt.

The strapping chestnut had finished a luckless fourth at his career debut at Morphettville back on July 29.

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The Tony McEvoy-trained colt tracked the early speed set by Crystal Spirit and when Luke Currie pressed the go button Illumicon quickly collared the favourite to win by one and a quarter lengths.


It was the fourth consecutive second for Crystal Spirit who looks sure to break his maiden in the near future.

Godolphin's Exceed And Excel filly Langoustine finished well for third with another strong performance came from Darren Weir's Americain colt Amerock in fourth just two and a half lengths from the winner.

Currie said the son of Nicconi has the scope to win better races.

"He drew well, took up a nice spot and the two main dangers crossed us and were running 1-2 so we had them in our sights, Currie said.

"They backed the speed off so I elected to come out a bit early so we exposed him a little bit but it was only a matter of when I pushed the button and put them away.

"I galloped him for the first time during the week and he gave me the feel of a nice horse. Obviously, they have to take the next step but he did everything right today to say that he is on the right track.

A $130,000 purchase from the Lomar Park draft at the 2016 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale, Illumicon is the second foal of the winning Encosta de Lago mare Elucidate.

A $210,000 Easter Yearling, Elucidate is out of the Deputy Governor mare Krall a sister to Group I NZ Two Thousand Guineas winner Hero and a three-quarter sister to the dam of Group I Rosehill Guineas winner Sale Of Century.

Krall is a daughter of NZ Oaks and AJC Oaks heroine Domino a three-quarter sister to triple Group I winner (Our) Westminster (the dam of four stakes winners including dual Group I winner Pace Invader) and half-sister to Group II Breeders Stakes winner Super Natural.

Nicconi covered 226 mares at Widden Stud last season at a fee of $11,000 and has earned a bump in fee in 2017 to $16,500.

 

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