Nicconi's Niccanova Toughs it Out in Bernborough Handicap

Mark Smith - Saturday December 28

Tough-as-teak Nicconi 6yo gelding Niccanova carried his top weight of 59kgs to an all the way win in Saturday’s Listed Bernborough Handicap (1600m) at Eagle Farm.

The Steve Tregea-trained gelding was there to be beaten when challenged by Looks Like Elvis inside the 200 metres, but he turned that back to win by a neck with a long neck to Cool Chap in third.

Advertisement

Jockey Jim Orman said it was not the plan to lead.

“I want to say sorry to Steve for giving him a heart attack in the run. I didn’t have much option, there was not much speed on paper and I was hoping to be fifth or sixth but I was going to be three-wide so I rolled forward,” Orman said.

“He’s tough this horse he just keeps on fighting.”

Niccanova advances his record to 9 wins, 3 seconds and 3 thirds from 23 starts with earnings of $689,175.

Tregea said his homebred son of Nicconi was the star of the stable.

“I didn’t expect him to lead today because Jimmy and I had a good talk about it and we were worried he was drawn wide in a race where there didn’t look to be much pace

“He just needs cover but when he was going to be caught three wide he did the right thing.

“I thought about taking the blinkers off him today but thought I wont change anything, I was to and from but it worked out well in the end.

“He’s been underrated because he has had a few injuries along the way, little bones chipped off his canon, he was upside down in the float one day, little things that have slowed him up.”

Bred and retained to race by Windemere Stud, Niccanova is the first foal of unraced Snippetson mare Dananova, who comes from the family of juvenile stakes-winner Ploverset and New Zealand Group I winner Southern Lord.

Dananova died in November 2017 shortly after foaling a filly by Whittington.

Nicconi has 11 entered for the Magic Millions, 18 at the Inglis Classic and 10 at the Inglis Premier.

Advertisment

Race Result - Magic Millions Bernborough Hcp LR 1600m

Eagle Farm Track: Good(3) Time: 1:35.78
1
Niccanova
- 6g Nicconi (AUS) x Dananova (AUS) (Snippetson (AUS))
Tnr: S P Tregea Rdr: James Orman 59
Nicconi
2
0.3
Looks Like Elvis
- 5g All American (AUS) x Savalook (NZ) (Savabeel (AUS))
Tnr: B J Dais Rdr: B N Stewart 57
3
0.7
Cool Chap
- 7g High Chaparral (IRE) x Cherishing (USA) (Johannesburg (USA))
Tnr: R L Heathcote Rdr: J R Collett 54.5
4
1.0
Over Exposure
- 5g Rothesay (AUS) x Show A Princess (AUS) (Show A Heart (AUS))
Tnr: T & C McEvoy Rdr: L Currie 54
5
1.2
Reckless Choice
- 5g Choisir (AUS) x Alacer (AUS) (More Than Ready (USA))
Tnr: Steven O'Dea Rdr: Boris Thornton 54
6
2.5
Spectroscope
- 7g Medaglia D'Oro (USA) x Diamondrella (GB) (Rock Of Gibraltar (IRE))
Tnr: Natalie McCall Rdr: Ron Stewart 57
7
2.6
Sambro
- 5g Fastnet Rock (AUS) x Eau De Joie (AUS) (Encosta De Lago (AUS))
Tnr: C J Waller Rdr: G Boss 57.5
8
3.8
Silvera
- 6g High Chaparral (IRE) x Silver Tiara (AUS) (Ferocity (AUS))
Tnr: T J Gollan Rdr: Baylee Nothdurft 55.5
9
3.9
Doubt Defying
- 6g Not A Single Doubt (AUS) x Sarthemare (AUS) (Street Cry (IRE))
Tnr: Kacy Fogden Rdr: A Mallyon 55.5
10
4.0
Master Zephyr
- 8g Shirocco (GER) x Missy Dancer (GB) (Shareef Dancer (USA))
Tnr: Tony Haydon Rdr: M R Du Plessis 54
11
4.3
Snitch
- 5g Lope De Vega (IRE) x Quaffle (AUS) (Hurricane Sky (AUS))
Tnr: T J Gollan Rdr: M Mc Gillivray 54
12
7.3
Mewstone Rock
- 8m Fastnet Rock (AUS) x Star Of Gretchen (NZ) (Bahhare (USA))
Tnr: J G Symons & S Laxon Rdr: Ms S Thornton 54
13
15.3
Ruling Dynasty
- 8g Medaglia D'Oro (USA) x Makarova (AUS) (Thunder Gulch (USA))
Tnr: R L Heathcote Rdr: Luke Tarrant 54
14
16.3
Le Juge
- 7g Dansili (GB) x Mambo Light (USA) (Kingmambo (USA))
Tnr: C J Waller Rdr: R Fradd 56
More Reading...
Raining Black Type at Geisel Park
Geisel Park and its Group 1 racehorse and sire Manhattan Rain are poised to launch another winning wave in Group company at home and on the road with their fillies and mares in May.
Inglis Australian Weanlings - Unraced Trial Report
With the Inglis Australian Weanling sale kicking off on Monday don’t forget to check the unraced trialler report for a bit more intel on what might be coming.
Everest Slot for Nature Strip
Nicconi's star sprinter Nature Strip has gained a slot for the $14million Everest with James Harron Bloodstock declaring him as their runner.
Libertad Back To Winning Form in G2 Victory Stakes
It had been a while between drinks but Russian Revolution stallion Libertad found his way back to winning form in the Group II Victory Stakes (1200m) at Eagle Farm on Saturday.
FBAA Mentorship Program - Successful Applicants Announced
The FBAA is excited to announce the selection of two mentees to participate in the second annual FBAA Mentorship Program commencing 19th May 2025.
2.3million Justify Colt Wins G1 Newmarket 2000 Guineas for Godolphin
The weekend started well for Godolphin when their unbeaten filly Good Cheer won the Group I Kentucky Oaks on Friday and it got even better on Saturday when record priced  €2.3million Justify colt Ruling Court landed the Group I Newmarket 2000 Guineas in the UK.
Kentucky Derby Triumph for Godolphin
Sheikh Mohammed’s revered Godolphin racing and breeding operation have won Derbies all over the world, but until today the Kentucky Derby had proven elusive, but a three year-old colt called Sovereignty changed all that at Churchill Downs before a crowd in excess of 150,000.
One to Watch – Sale
Reigning Australian Horse of the Year Pride of Jenni was not the only ‘Jenni’ making a trip to the winner’s circle this weekend.
Unbeaten Nicconi 3YO Impresses
The Tony Pike-trained Not Ideal indicated he has a promising future ahead of him after he maintained his winning ways at Tauranga.
Another Nicconi Stakes-Winner
Winner of the Group III BRC Fred Best Classic at three, talented six year-old Nicconi gelding Niccanova recaptured top form when winning the Listed BRC Brisbane Stakes at Doomben on Saturday.