A flying start to the day for Aquis Farm's first crop sires Kobayashi, Invader, and Jukebox with Midnight In Tokyo (Kobayashi) winning at Randwick, Nishikado (Invader) making a winning debut at Gawler, and Jukebox Flyer (Jukebox) a fighting second at Caulfield.
The Richard and Chantelle Jolly, Nishikado went off favourite for the Kingsford Hotel Hcp (100m) at Gawler off the back of four solid trials.
Given a picture-perfect ride by Todd Pannell, the son of Invader tracked the early speed before peeling three deep on the turn to mount his challenge.
"Merrick Staunton picked him out for Price Bloodstock at the Gold Coast," Richard Jolly said.
"He's had a couple of trials, but we did not think he was quite up to Hong Kong, but if he keeps improving, you never know. He certainly got the job done today.
"I have known David (Price) for a long time through an association with Robert Smerdon, who stabled horses at our place when coming to Adelaide. One day David said I will give you a horse, and the relationship has blossomed."
Bred by Aquis Farm, Nishikado was pinhooked by Edinburgh Park Stud for $27,000 at the National Weanling Sale before turning that into $120,000 when knocked down to Simple Bloodstock Services at the Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale.
He is the second winner from three to race out of the winning Azamour mare Mediation (GB), who was a $250,000 purchase for Aquis / Blue Sky Bloodstock (FBAA) at the 2017 Inglis Chairman's Sale.
A daughter of the Group II winner and Group 1 Prix Royal Oak runner-up Macleya (GER), Mediation (GB) has a yearling colt by Spieth, which failed to make his $25,000 reserve at the Adelaide Magic Millions.
After missing in 2020, Mediation (GB) revisited Invader last spring.
Nishikado is the eighth first crop winner for Invader, placing him third to Russian Revolution (14) and The Mission (9) for individual winners.
