David Hayes is confident that with winkers on for the first time Nicconi can redeem himself against a crack sprint field in the Group One Patinack Farm Classic at Flemington.Hayes said Nicconi should have won the Group One Manikato Stakes (1200m) at Moonee Valley last start when he flashed home from last at the turn to finish third to Danleigh, but predicted he won't be back that far with the gear change on Saturday."He has been set specifically for this race and I think the winkers will sharpen
David Hayes is confident that with winkers on for the first time Nicconi can redeem himself against a crack sprint field in the Group One Patinack Farm Classic at Flemington.
Hayes said Nicconi should have won the Group One Manikato Stakes (1200m) at Moonee Valley last start when he flashed home from last at the turn to finish third to Danleigh, but predicted he won't be back that far with the gear change on Saturday.
"He has been set specifically for this race and I think the winkers will sharpen him up," Hayes said.
"We have waited until now to put the winkers on because this is his grand final."
Hayes rates Nicconi as potentially the best sprinter he has trained and he has won five of his 11 starts, including the Group One The Galaxy (1100m) in Sydney last autumn.
Craig Williams rode the four-year-old when he won first-up in the McEwen Stakes (1000m) at the Valley on September 12 and Hayes was critical of his ride in the Manikato.
Brad Rawiller takes the reins on Saturday and will start from gate eight in the nine-horse field for the 1200m feature.
Rawiller said he would walk the track on Friday afternoon and again on race morning before deciding which path to take on Nicconi down the straight.
"He's going to be a super chance," Rawiller said.
Bookmakers see the Patinack Farm Classic as a race in four with All Silent, who is unbeaten in three runs at Flemington, $3.60 favourite with both Betstar and TAB Sportsbet.
Apache Cat is second favourite at $4.40 and $4.20 with both agencies respectively while Betstar can't split his stablemate Mic Mac and Nicconi at $4.80.
Jockey Dan Nikolic said blinkers added to the gear of Mic Mac could give him the edge he needs to win his first Group One race while Apache Cat is chasing his ninth success at the elite level.
Last start a short neck separated them when they were first and second in the Group Two Schweppes Stakes (1200m) at Moonee Valley but Nikolic is hopeful of turning the tables.
He said Mic Mac tended to get his head on his side and that the blinkers may help straighten him up.
Anthony Cummings said Turffontein, who ran second to the Bart Cummings-trained Swick in last year's Patinack Farm Classic, was racing better than ever this season.
"He is in the best form of his life," Cummings said.
Cummings will also back up four-year-old mare Seeking Attention after she was beaten a half-length when second to Very Discreet in the Listed Crown Promenade Stakes (1100m) at Flemington on Oaks Day.
The outsider at $81 with TAB Sportsbet and Betstar, Cummings is happy to give her two runs in three days.
"She is one of the most durable mares I have ever seen," Cummings said.
"She just doesn't lose any weight or lose any condition.
"She licks the feed bin clean every time and pokes her head out the next morning as if to say what's next."
Seeking Attention has won five of her 23 starts and was beaten just over a length when sixth to star sprinter Lucky Secret in the Listed Starlight Stakes at Rosehill in September.