David Hayes flew out of Melbourne early yesterday to supervise Nicconi's tilt at international glory in England later this month, but the Nicconi team will still keep an eye on the opening event at Flemington tomorrow, reports The Age.It says: For while the stud-bound Nicconi is the present star for Hayes and his long-time owners Peter Devitt and Les Gordon, a colt which could be the future headline-maker for the trio makes his debut in the Von Costa De Hero Handicap. Columbus, a $630,000 weanli
David Hayes flew out of Melbourne early yesterday to supervise Nicconi's tilt at international glory in England later this month, but the Nicconi team will still keep an eye on the opening event at Flemington tomorrow, reports The Age.
It says: For while the stud-bound Nicconi is the present star for Hayes and his long-time owners Peter Devitt and Les Gordon, a colt which could be the future headline-maker for the trio makes his debut in the Von Costa De Hero Handicap. Columbus, a $630,000 weanling purchase who was bought back by Devitt, Gordon and Hayes at the Magic Millions Premier sale last year for $1.2 million, is a striking Redoute's Choice colt out of group-1 winning Centaine mare Kapchat.
The colt has already turned a few heads at Flemington, according to Hayes' foreman Gary Fennessy. Columbus is a half-brother to Danzero entire Kaphero, but unlike that multiple stakeswinner may be more of a middle-distance horse, Fennessy said. ''On the trials he's had here, he might find the 1000 metres a bit short, but the idea is to give him a run or two and see if he can measure up to better class [in the spring].''