Lightning Stakes 2010
January 30th 2010 22:40
Nicconi has booked a trip to Royal Ascot after producing a scintillating win in today’s $500,000 Group One Coolmore Lightning Stakes (1000m).
(September 11, 2009 - Photo by Mark Dadswell/Getty Images AsiaPac)
This race starts the 2010 Global Sprint Challenge with the remaining legs of the word’s richest sprint race to be held in the UK, Japan, and Hong Kong. With Australian horses proving so dominant in England in recent King’s Stand Stakes it sets up (again - as it did last year for Scenic Blast) the lure and prospect of the $US1 million bonus if a horse can win a Challenge race in three different countries.
In a performance very reminiscent of Scenic Blast in 2009 Nicconi settled at the tail of the field and had in his sights the recent Coolmore acquisition (reported as a 10 million purchase) Starspangledbanner. So confident was Danny Nikolic on Starspangledbanner that he began taking peeps over his shoulder at the halfway point. But soon Sheelscrape had ranged up on his outside - and while this was happening (top rated Speedratings horse) Wanted had kicked clear on the inside. It took a finishing sprint of dynamic proportions to make up the leeway and claim the prize by a long head. Wanted has now been runner-up behind champions Black Caviar, All Silent, and now potential Champion Sprinter Nicconi.
The 1000 metres was covered in 57.12 seconds. The last 600 metres was run in 32.81 seconds. The margins were Nicconi by a long head to Wanted with Shellscrape a further length away in third placing.
“It was as good a Lightning as the last three or four year and he's definitely the best sprinter I've trained.”
“He's a blue-blooded colt that can run and there's not many of them in Australia.” - David Hayes in interview with TVN.
“He's got a real turn of foot and this race is often won by the big finisher and the last to go so it's great to see the plan come off.
“I think he'll be an ideal Kings Stand horse.” - Damien Oliver TVN.
The first horse trained in the US to contest a race in Australia - the highly regarded Cannonball - finished near the rear of the field. He looked magnificent pre-race - but did require two handlers to lead him around the parade ring.
Nicconi remains unbeaten at 1000 metres - each time being his first-up run.
The King’s Stand Stakes awaits at Royal Ascot in June. Run over 1,000 metres on a testing straight track. With Australian winners: Choisir; Takeover Target; Miss Andretti, and Scenic Blast in the past 7 years (each previously winning the Lightning Stakes) it will be no surprise to see Nicconi start favourite - and prove again the dominance of the Australian sprinters.
In a disappointing sidelight I was not pleased to find champion 3 year old filly Irish Lights withdrawn on the morning of the race by Coolmore to protect their investment in Starspangledbanner. It had been my belief that it was Irish Lights who would prove the hardest to beat in this feature race. But in the end it would still be a David Hayes trained horse who would rain on the Coolmore parade.
Nicconi
4 year old Bay Horse
by Bianconi - out of Nicola Lass (by Scenic)
A half-brother to 5 time Group One winner Niconero (by Danzero)
Nicconi in 2009
(September 11, 2009 - Photo by Mark Dadswell/Getty Images AsiaPac)
This race starts the 2010 Global Sprint Challenge with the remaining legs of the word’s richest sprint race to be held in the UK, Japan, and Hong Kong. With Australian horses proving so dominant in England in recent King’s Stand Stakes it sets up (again - as it did last year for Scenic Blast) the lure and prospect of the $US1 million bonus if a horse can win a Challenge race in three different countries.
In a performance very reminiscent of Scenic Blast in 2009 Nicconi settled at the tail of the field and had in his sights the recent Coolmore acquisition (reported as a 10 million purchase) Starspangledbanner. So confident was Danny Nikolic on Starspangledbanner that he began taking peeps over his shoulder at the halfway point. But soon Sheelscrape had ranged up on his outside - and while this was happening (top rated Speedratings horse) Wanted had kicked clear on the inside. It took a finishing sprint of dynamic proportions to make up the leeway and claim the prize by a long head. Wanted has now been runner-up behind champions Black Caviar, All Silent, and now potential Champion Sprinter Nicconi.
The 1000 metres was covered in 57.12 seconds. The last 600 metres was run in 32.81 seconds. The margins were Nicconi by a long head to Wanted with Shellscrape a further length away in third placing.
“It was as good a Lightning as the last three or four year and he's definitely the best sprinter I've trained.”
“He's a blue-blooded colt that can run and there's not many of them in Australia.” - David Hayes in interview with TVN.
“He's got a real turn of foot and this race is often won by the big finisher and the last to go so it's great to see the plan come off.
“I think he'll be an ideal Kings Stand horse.” - Damien Oliver TVN.
The first horse trained in the US to contest a race in Australia - the highly regarded Cannonball - finished near the rear of the field. He looked magnificent pre-race - but did require two handlers to lead him around the parade ring.
Nicconi remains unbeaten at 1000 metres - each time being his first-up run.
The King’s Stand Stakes awaits at Royal Ascot in June. Run over 1,000 metres on a testing straight track. With Australian winners: Choisir; Takeover Target; Miss Andretti, and Scenic Blast in the past 7 years (each previously winning the Lightning Stakes) it will be no surprise to see Nicconi start favourite - and prove again the dominance of the Australian sprinters.
In a disappointing sidelight I was not pleased to find champion 3 year old filly Irish Lights withdrawn on the morning of the race by Coolmore to protect their investment in Starspangledbanner. It had been my belief that it was Irish Lights who would prove the hardest to beat in this feature race. But in the end it would still be a David Hayes trained horse who would rain on the Coolmore parade.
Nicconi
4 year old Bay Horse
by Bianconi - out of Nicola Lass (by Scenic)
A half-brother to 5 time Group One winner Niconero (by Danzero)
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