One of Victoria's best value stallions is enjoying a terrific run both here and overseas giving broodmare owners even more reasons to consider him this season.

US Winner

The last weekend started with a win in the USA at Arlington Park for Labar a chestnut 5YO Bianconi mare from Another Jo by Transworld. The mare has now won 5 races and over US$176,000 with her latest win on the All Weather Track over the popular 1700m.Sitting nicely in fifth spot she improved to third on straightening and was untroubled to take the event out with a solid finish on the line. The Allowance event was the major race on the nine event card. 

Well Backed Debut Winner

A first starter at Geelong on the thorough track on Friday in Race 1 was the medium of a big betting move. Baby Dean a very powerful and stunning 3YO colt by Bianconi from Dorothea Dance by Citidancer was a very short priced favourite for the $11,500 Maiden Plate over 1100m.

Trained by Leon Corstens one of the first trainers to taste Group success with the stock (trainer of Mr Martini Grp 2 MVRC Stakes etc) the horse was always well in commission. Backers may have been a little concerned when he was the slowest away, but jockey Vlad Duric used his natural pace to boot up underneath horses and assume the lead after 400m.

After doing a fair bit of work to the turn he booted right away in the straight before the hard run started to take its toll. While never looking like getting beaten the margin on the line was cut back to a head, so he had survived a tough initiation. With the race day experience he is sure to be almost bombproof next start and certainly looks a very promising individual. 

Group 3 Rising Star

Saturday saw the running of a 3YO race that is fast gaining a reputation for class horses. Aptly named the Danehill Stakes it is a Group 3 positioned to replace the Ascot Vale Stakes which moved from this traditional Spring lead up day (Makybe Stakes Day formerly Craiglee Stakes Day) to the Spring Carnival. The race attracted a top class field as the eventual placings and Timeform ratings revealed. The straight track can often have unlucky runners now as the field banks up on the outside of the track where the going is often superior.

Nicconi a 3YO Colt by Bianconi an impressive winner at Sandown at his first start faced the starter for only the second time and had drawn awkwardly in Barrier 4. Craig Williams angled across behind runners, but the horse resented being held up as the pace slackened after 250m and over raced badly with his head up and losing momentum at every bound. When a run finally presented itself the winner Aichi was in full flight and the second horse Time Thief who had enjoyed a better run than Nicconi was a good length in front with some momentum.

In the run to the line Nicconi battled on very well to take third and fighting the jockey early in the race may have resulted in his run finishing inside the last 50m. Nicconi beat home Exceedingly Good (Barrier 11 - VRC Maribyrnong Plate winner); Carnero (Barrier 2  - previously 2nd VRC Sires Produce Stakes “good run”); Augusta Proud (Barrier 10 – Gold Coast Magic Millions winner); plus very good horses like Related, Saranda, Amelia’s Reason, Georgia’s Boy, Fury and St Culpe. 

Nicconi was allotted a provisional Timeform rating of 110 which in perspective was the same as allotted Stavka for winning the Listed VRC Hong Kong Jockey Club Stakes an earlier race. The horse certainly has a great motor and a stakes win is not too far away for the exciting son of Bianconi. 

The 2008 Deal

A special deal (over $2200 off) is being done on Bianconi at present. He is advertised this season at $11,000 with a Live Foal Guarrantee or Free Return and as he boasts a career winners to runners ratio of over 64%, breeders should “make hay while the sun shines”.