Breeding & Racing Magazine

Niconero Wins Gr1 Australian Cup

Gr1 Golden Slipper-winning Arrowfield Stud sire Danzero (Danehill-Confidentially, by Kaoru Star) added a Gr1 triumph when 7YO gelding Niconero (Danzero-Nicola Lass, by Scenic) made it 2 successive Gr1 triumphs in a week when he flashed home from back in the field to snatch a last-stride victory in a 3-way photo-finish to the $1 million weight-for-age Gr1 Darley Australian Cup (2000m) at Flemington in Melbourne. Niconero (ridden by Craig Williams for trainer David Hayes) scored by a nose from favoured 5YO gelding Theseo (Danewin-Ozone Sand, by L'Enjoleur) with a further short-head to 4YO entire Zagreb (Zabeel-Dansino, by Danehill). At his previous start on February 28, Niconero won the Gr1 Futurity Stakes (1600m) at Caulfield & overall now has 13 wins (also including 2008's Gr1 Kingston Town Classic over 1800m at Ascot & Gr1 Futurity Stakes over 1600m at Caulfield, plus 2006's Gr1 Fruit N Veg Stakes over 1800m at Ascot & Listed Anniversary Vase over 1400m at Caulfield, as well as 2005's Gr2 Waterford Crystal Mile over 1600m & Listed Aurie's Star Handicap over 1200m) & 10 placings (including 2008's Gr3 Spring Stakes over 1200m at Morphettville & Gr1 Orr Stakes over 1400m at Caulfield, plus 2007's Gr1 Toorak Handicap over 1600m at Caulfield & Gr1 Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes over 1400m at Caulfield, as well as 2006's Gr1 Railway Stakes over 1600m at Ascot, Gr1 Emirates Stakes over 1600m at Flemington, Gr1 Toorak Handicap over 1600m at Caulfield, Gr1 All-Aged Stakes over 1400m at Randwick & Gr3 Carlyon Cup over 1400m) from 53 starts for $3,096,280 earnings. (Click on the link for full race details from Group Race Results at AAP Racing.)