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.

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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.

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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
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