After losing his unbeaten record at his previous start, the three-year-old Nicconi gelding The Bopper was back to his winning ways at Randwick on Saturday when earning a maiden stakes success in the $200,000 Listed AMD Brian Crowley Stakes (1200m).
Ridden by Josh Parr for trainer Kris Lees, the Bopper controlled the race from the front.
Relishing the cut in the ground, The Bopper defeated the Sacred Falls colt Tommy Gold by one and three-quarter lengths with a further two and three-quarter lengths back to the I Am Invincible colt On The Lead in third.
Following decisive victories at Tamworth and Scone earlier this year, a ring rusty The Bopper went down narrowly to Black Magnum in track record time over 1100m at Canterbury.
Lees will now decide whether to press on to the $1 million The Hunter (1300m) at his home track in Newcastle next month or spell him and set him for an autumn campaign.
Purchased by his trainer for $30,000 out of the Widden Stud draft at the 2019 Inglis scone Yearling Sale, The Bopper is the first foal of the winning Artie Schiller (USA) mare Chicago who hails from the family of Black Opal Stakes winner Sarthemare (Street cry) the dam of Group II Roman Consul Stakes winner Sesar (Sebring) and Listed winner Doubt Defying (Not a Single Doubt).
Chicago has a 2yo colt by Outreach that was purchased by Tracey Bartley for $40,000 at Scone this year, a yearling filly by Outreach and was covered by Star Turn last spring.
The Bopper becomes the 20th stakes-winner for Nicconi who commands a fee of $27,500 at Widden Stud in 2020.
