Nicconi filly gets off the mark in Australia’s first two-year-old race of the season
Mick Price could follow the successful blueprint employed by fellow Caulfield trainer Grahame Begg two years ago after his “workmanlike” juvenile filly Cavalla (Nicconi – Bella Corona by Beautiful Crown) won the opening two-year-old race of the Australian season at Flemington yesterday.
Cavalla ($12) upstaged Godolphin’s Contemporary (Exceed And Excel) ($2.10 favourite) in the Darley Spring Preview (900m), prompting Price to consider running her again down the straight in the Maribyrnong Trial Stakes (Listed, 1000m) on October 2.
Begg’s filly Mildred (Hinchinbrook), who was sold for $850,000 at the Inglis Chairman’s Sale in May, completed the double in 2019.
“A winner is always impressive, isn’t it, but the question is what to do with her now, I guess,” said Price, who trains in partnership with Mick Kent jnr.
“I see Mildred won this race two years ago and backed up into the Maribyrnong Trial.
“Given that she’s had experience down the straight, I’m not saying this one will, but if Grahame can do it, I can have a look at it.”
Price said Cavalla had handled her preparation to the races with aplomb and caused her trainers to question her need for the paddock.
“She’s been workmanlike, hasn’t missed a beat, and she’s still a bit wintry in the coat, but her knees are good, and she’s never been shin sore,” he said.
“She’s just a good workmanlike filly who will train on.”
Ridden by Patrick Moloney, Cavalla lifted under pressure to defy the challenge of Contemporary under a vigorous ride from Damien Oliver. The Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott-trained Nominator (Zoustar) ($5) was a length away in third.
“I’m pretty thankful to the Mick Price and Michael Kent jnr team as they’ve been giving me a good crack of late, and I’ve been in there doing the yards,” Moloney said.
“I trialled up this filly and my last city ride for them was River View, so my last two rides for them have been successful.
“Hopefully there’s a few more to come.”
A half-sister to three-time Queensland Listed winner Bewhatyouwannabe (Fastnet Rock) and seven other winners, Cavalla is the tenth living foal out of the Listed winning, Group 2-placed juvenile Bella Corona.
She was purchased at the Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale by Price and Kent jnr for $130,000 from the draft of KBL Thoroughbreds, who was offering the filly on behalf of breeder Bowcock Bloodstock.
Bowcock retired Bella Corona from stud duties after the birth of Cavalla.
Nicconi (Bianconi), the sire of star sprinter Nature Strip, has relocated south to Widden Victoria’s new operation this year where he stands at a fee of $27,500 (inc GST).
Toowoomba in Queensland hosts another two-year-old race on Saturday, the Pat O’Shea Plate (1000m), in which Aquis Farm’s first season sire The Mission (Choisir) has four acceptors while Spieth (Thorn Park) has one.
Newgate Farm’s Menari (Snitzel) also has one two-year-old, filly Menari Magic, accepted for the race.