New Stakes-Winner for Nicconi

Tara Madgwick - Saturday April 18

Progressive gelding William Thomas scored a career best win in the Listed MRC Bel Esprit Stakes (1100m) at Caulfield on Saturday with his sire Nicconi making it a race to race double when Group I placed Lankan Star won the very next race.

William Thomas - image Racing Photos

Prepared at Cranbourne by John Price, William Thomas thrived on a seven day back up, charging home from last to win by a length and a half.

"From memory, he's batted up after seven days before and this was the second time, and in a nice race today," Price said.

"I was starting to come to the conclusion that he's a good horse but not quite up there with the better ones.

"But he was pretty impressive today and I just love his versatility.

"He showed that he can get 1400 metres last time and yet he's coming back from 1200 to 1100 today."



William Thomas was a $110,000 Magic Millions Adelaide purchase from the Maluka Thoroughbreds draft for owner Shirley Prosser and was a successful pinhook having been bought for $13,000 at the Magic Millions National Weanling Sale from the Riverslea Farm draft.

He has the overall record of seven wins and five placings from 20 starts with prizemoney in excess of $456,000.

Bred by Riverslea Farm, William Thomas is the best of two winners from Fastnet Rock mare Girls Rock, who was exported to China after he was born.

He is the 19th stakes-winner for Widden Stud's Nicconi, who had a fee increase last year to $38,500 and covered 113 mares.


 

Advertisment

Race Result - Bel Esprit Stakes LR 1100m

Caulfield Track: Good(3) Time: 1:03.08
1
William Thomas
- 5g Nicconi (AUS) x Girls Rock (AUS) (Fastnet Rock (AUS))
Tnr: J W Price Rdr: M J Dee 56.5
Nicconi
2
1.5
Humma Humma
- 4m Denman (AUS) x Humma Mumma (AUS) (Bel Esprit (AUS))
Tnr: John McArdle Rdr: D W Stackhouse 56
Denman
3
2.3
Coruscate
- 5g Exceed And Excel (AUS) x Dazzler (AUS) (More Than Ready (USA))
Tnr: James Cummings Rdr: Jye McNeil 56
4
2.4
Lyre
- 3f Lonhro (AUS) x Erato (AUS) (Street Cry (IRE))
Tnr: Anthony Freedman Rdr: M Zahra 56
5
3.1
News Girl
- 4m Magnus (AUS) x Stacey Lee (AUS) (Bel Esprit (AUS))
Tnr: G M Duryea Rdr: Lewis German 56
6
3.2
Snitzkraft
- 5h Snitzel (AUS) x Power O'Raylee (AUS) (O'Reilly (NZ))
Tnr: P Stokes Rdr: Regan Bayliss 58
7
3.3
Crystal Dreamer
- 7g Stratum (AUS) x Crystal Wit (AUS) (Distorted Humor (USA))
Tnr: M Ellerton & S Zahra Rdr: Jamie Kah 61
8
4.0
Tahitian Dancer
- 4m Dawn Approach (IRE) x Takanori (AUS) (Vital Equine (IRE))
Tnr: S P Nichols Rdr: D Oliver 56
9
4.2
Malibu Style
- 8g Magnus (AUS) x Origami (AUS) (Fusaichi Pegasus (USA))
Tnr: N D Parnham Rdr: Ben Thompson 60
10
4.4
Achernar Star
- 5g Gingerbread Man (AUS) x Morine (AUS) (Danetime (IRE))
Tnr: L Smith Rdr: Ben Allen 60.5
11
4.5
Beautiful Flyer
- 7m Solo Flyer (AUS) x Blow The Budget (AUS) (Luskin Star (AUS))
Tnr: Mick Kluske Rdr: Beau Mertens 56
12
5.5
More Than Exceed
- 4g More Than Ready (USA) x Exceedingly Regal (AUS) (Exceed And Excel (AUS))
Tnr: P Stokes Rdr: B Melham 56
13
5.7
Eduardo
- 6g Host (CHI) x Blushing (AUS) (Fantastic Light (USA))
Tnr: Sarah Zschoke Rdr: B Park 59.5
14
6.2
From Within
- 5m Not A Single Doubt (AUS) x Zimaretto (AUS) (Anabaa (USA))
Tnr: D T O'Brien Rdr: Craig Williams 56
15
7.7
Runson
- 7g Delzao (AUS) x Runs On Dreams (AUS) (Last Tycoon (IRE))
Tnr: L & T Corstens Rdr: D Dunn 57
16
9.2
Fleet Review
- 5h War Front (USA) x A Star Is Born (IRE) (Galileo (IRE))
Tnr: Alexander Rae Rdr: N Callow 57.5
More Reading...
Coolmore Set Justify Fee for 2025
Coolmore have announced the US fee for Justify in 2025 with the undefeated Triple Crown winner priced at $US250,000 to head  their roster of 16 stallions at Ashford Stud in Kentucky.
Melbourne Cup Pedigree Analysis - Do It Yourself
Breednet has produced a great page with click through to five generation pedigrees for all the Melbourne Cup runners, so for amateur pedigree buffs looking to have a Cup flutter based pedigree here’s your chance  to DIY it!
More Stakes Success for Air Assault
Group I placed last season in the SA Derby, talented gelding Air Assault kept the winning run going for Victoria Derby winning trainer Andrew Gluyas when taking out the Listed SAJC John Letts Cup (1800m) at Morphettville on Melbourne Cup Day.
Rosemont and Partners Stakes Quinella on Cup Day
Written Tycoon posted his second new stakes-winner on Melbourne Cup Day when promising three year-old gelding Catoggio took out the Listed VRC Amanda Elliot Stakes (1400m)  for Rosemont Stud and partners, who also race the second horse Bosustow.
Knights Choice a True Underdog Story
Punters were left stunned when the Queenslander Knight's Choice and Japanese visitor Warp Speed (JPN) emerged from the pack to fight out a dramatic finish to the $8,560,000 Group 1 Lexus Melbourne Cup (3200m) at Flemington.
Antrim Coast to Fly Flag for The Oaks Stud
The well-renowned colours of The Oaks Stud will feature across two feature Trans-Tasman meetings this week, kicking off with Antrim Coast lining up in the Listed Furphy Plate (1800m) on Melbourne Cup Day at Flemington.
2024 Melbourne Cup Result - It's Knights Choice
The 2024 Melbourne Cup has been run and won with Knight’s Choice, a five-year-old gelding by Extreme Choice victorious.
Sires With Winners - Monday November 4
Here is the full list of 21 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Sires With Winners - Tuesday November 5
Here is the full list of 145 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
$6million Frankel Mare Tops Fasig -Tipton November Sale
The Fasig-Tipton November Sale, billed as the World’s Premier Breeding Stock Event, was held Monday at the company’s Newtown Paddocks in Lexington, Kentucky. Twenty-five offerings sold for $1,000,000 or more, led by a trio of Grade/Group 1 winners with international appeal.