THE SMALL crowd at the Caulfield races yesterday were treated to a final sizzling gallop in this part of the world from super sprinter Nicconi, who will stand at stud in the Hunter Valley in NSW after he returns from his raid on two of England's best sprint races, reports the Sunday Age.It says: Trainer David Hayes, who also part-owns the four-year-old, announced the 30 per cent sale of the dual group 1 winning entire yesterday, then watched as the galloper unleashed a tremendous sprint over the
THE SMALL crowd at the Caulfield races yesterday were treated to a final sizzling gallop in this part of the world from super sprinter Nicconi, who will stand at stud in the Hunter Valley in NSW after he returns from his raid on two of England's best sprint races, reports the Sunday Age.
It says: Trainer David Hayes, who also part-owns the four-year-old, announced the 30 per cent sale of the dual group 1 winning entire yesterday, then watched as the galloper unleashed a tremendous sprint over the final 600 metres in what was his farewell gallop in Australia.
Nicconi leaves for England on Wednesday where he will tackle the group 1 King's Stand Stakes at Royal Ascot before his final race start in the July Cup at Newmarket. He will then return home to Widden Stud where he will stand for a $20,000 firstseason fee.
Wearing blinkers in public for the first time, Nicconi recorded an amazing 21.11 seconds for his final 400 metres and 32.81 seconds for his final 600 metres in a solo gallop in a performance that put a huge smile on Hayes' face. "I'm thrilled with him," he said. "That shows he's right to go and put in his best effort."
Jockey Steven Arnold reported to Hayes that the horse "flew" despite pulling off a front shoe before the gallop got serious. He said he told Hayes that if Frankie Dettori could not take the ride in the King's Stand on June 12, he would be happy to pay his way to England to partner him.