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.

Advertisement

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.

 

Advertisment
More Reading...
Ones to Watch – Rosehill
In years to come when racing trivia nights are held, a question will be - what was the horse champion jockey Jett Newman rode in her first metropolitan race win?  And the answer is our One to Watch.
2026 NZB KARAKA YEARLING SALE PREVIEW – Sky Thoroughbred Central this Monday
Caroline Searcy’s extensive preview of the Centenary New Zealand National Sale will premiere on Sky Thoroughbred Central Monday night at 7.30pm AEDST. This is a must watch chance to see over ten percent of the Book 1 catalogue and a some select Book 2 yearlings as well, ahead of sale ground inspections this week and the Sale’s commencement on Sunday January 25.
Hawker Hall Wins Last on Magic Day
James McDonald made the most of a late pick-up ride on Hawker Hall when he let the gelding rip from a wide barrier to run his rivals ragged in the $250,000 Magic Millions Class 6 Plate (1200m) at the Gold Coast on Saturday.
Geese That Lay Golden Eggs – What’s in the Future?
The 2026 Magic Millions Yearling Sale was highlighted by 15 yearlings that sold for $1million or more which was two more than last year when just 13 hit the magic mark, but still considerably down on 2024 which saw 23 millionaires sold following on from 20 in 2023.
Mulcaster Finds First Winner for Portland Sky
A Group I winning son of champion sire Deep Field, Widden Stud’s Portland Sky put his first winner on the board at Ascot on Saturday with a dominant debut victory for talented filly Daryte, who was purchased by Guy Mulcaster.
Sires With Winners - Saturday January 17
Here is the full list of 111 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Birchley Back to NZ for More Millions
Queensland trainer Liam Birchley is no stranger to success in the richest two-year-old race in New Zealand, the $1million TAB Karaka Millions 2YO (1200m), and he is hoping to replicate the winning feeling next weekend as he prepares to line-up a pair of quality fillies in the Ellerslie dash for cash.
King of Roseau Brings Full Circle Moment for Capitalist and Snowden
A decade after Peter Snowden won the Magic Millions 2YO Classic with Capitalist, the champion trainer saddled up the stallion’s son King Of Roseau to win the $2 million Magic Millions Cup (1400m) at the Gold Coast on Saturday.
$270,000 Tagaloa Filly Tops Super Strong MM Book 2
A beautiful filly by Blue Diamond Stakes winner Tagaloa topped the final day of the 2026 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale when selling for $270,000.
Via Sistina Retired - Dubawi Her First Mating
Chris Waller has announced the retirement of Champion mare Via Sistina after returning for her autumn campaign not “her normal highly energetic self”.