NICCONI A RISING STAR FOR BIANCONI

Nicconi stamped himself a potential autumn carnival star with a scintillating first up win in the valleyevents.net.au Handicap (1000m) at Moonee Valley tonight.

A winner and Group Three placegetter from his two runs in his initial campaign, Nicconi stood up as an early threat to the boom three-year-old Whobegotyou in the Group One Cadbury Guineas in March.

The Lindsay Park stable has always held the colt in high regard, thinking he would graduate into one of the state's top racehorses.

David Hayes' confidence for tonight's race was boosted incredibly when a long time Lindsay Park jockey gave Nicconi a massive wrap after a lead up gallop.

"Paul Gatt rode him in a gallop and he trotted up to me after and told me it was the best gallop ever at Lindsay Park," Hayes commented.

"That is some wrap. He has been at Lindsay Park for a long time and he knows his horses pretty well."

"We think he's a genuine Group horse," Hayes said from the winner's circle.

"And I think he showed that today."

A home bred, Nicconi got back in the field as expected in tonight's race before coming with a brilliant run to hit the front and race clear. Hayes and rider Brad Rawiller were understandably impressed. So too was the good crowd on hand for the Carlyon Stakes meeting.

"We knew he'd always be a bit off the pace because he's a miler. But they were going very fast. He was following a good horse and he got the last crack at him."

"I think the first two (Nicconi and Cardinal Virtue) are very good."

A clash with Whobegotyou during the autumn could be on the cards with Hayes thinking that Nicconi will be perfectly suited at a mile.

"That's the way we are going to go. We raced more like a miler and being a (half) brother to Niconero he's worth plenty."

At the post Nicconi ($2.40-$2.90-$2.80 fav) held a widening length and a quarter margin over the group performed Cardinal Virtue ($2.50-$3).

The impressive nature in which Nicconi beat Cardinal Virtue and others tonight certainly didn't surprise proven big race rider Brad Rawiller.

"He's always shown us plenty at home," Rawiller said.

"His win at Sandown first time, that was the first time I was on his back, and he ran home in 32.9 - that's pretty low flying."

"His run then down the straight was pretty good, without much luck."

"It was great to get back aboard him tonight and he felt awesome."

A half brother to triple Group One winner Niconero, Nicconi is by Swettenham Stud's outstanding sire Bianconi.

A regally bred son of Danzig, Bianconi is one of Victoria's leading stallions and one of a quality line up at Adam Sangster's Swettenham Stud.

A group performer on the track, Bianconi is from one of the world's best ever producing broodmares, the mighty Fall Aspen.

PICS - Quentin Lang.