Nicconi Filly Viola Vivace Outstanding on Debut

Mark Smith - Thursday December 28

The outsider of the three debutants in the Big Event Picnic Tables Maiden Plate (1000m) at Mornington, the Nicconi filly Viola Vivace blew past her two rivals for an impressive debut.

Small field - big win (image Scott Barbour/Racing Photos)

Ridden by Blaike McDougall for Ben, Will, and JD Hayes, Viola Vivace dawdled along at the rear of the field after a scratchy start.

When McDougall asked for an effort, the response was immediate as the daughter of Nicconi put three and a quarter lengths over the odds-on favourite Souk (Street Boss) with a short-head back to Cyclone Coco (Toronado).

“She’s very professional, well prepared by the team at Lindsy Park,” McDougall said.

“There was no plan in the small field of 2yo first starters. She began a fraction awkwardly, and I let her find her feet early. She relaxed well off a genuine speed for a small field. When I pulled her out, she did the rest effortlessly.

“It’s hard to gauge the race's strength, but she is a little professional whose attitude will take her a long way.

 Bred by Seymour Bloodstock, Viola Vivace was a $170,000 purchase for Inc Macys / Satomi Oka Bloodstock (FBAA) from the Newhaven Park draft at the 2023 Inglis Premier Yearling Sale.

Viola Vivace a $170,000 Inglis Premier yearling

She is the first foal of the All American mare Create Some Magic, whose best finish in eight stats was third in a Cranbourne maiden when on debut.

A half-sister to dual Group III winner and near $1million earner Irithea (Snitzel), from the family of the exceptional Japanese stars Cesario, Epiphaneia, Leontes, and Saturnalia, Create Some Magic has a Fierce Impact (JPN) colt in the Newhaven Park draft heading to the Inglis Premier Yearling Sale in March (Lot 185).

Viola Vivace is the first 2-year-old winner of the season for Widden Stud stalwart Nicconi. The sire of the incredible Nature Strip shows few signs of slowing down, covering 163 mares last year and was represented by his first Group 1 winner as a broodmare sire when Magic Time won the Group I MRC Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes.

Advertisment

Race Result - Big Event Picnic Tables Mdn Plate 1000m

Mornington Track: Good(4) Time: 0:59.24
1
Viola Vivace
- 2f Nicconi (AUS) x Create Some Magic (AUS) (All American (AUS))
Tnr: Ben, Will & Jd Hayes Rdr: B Mc Dougall 56
2
3.3
Souk
- 2c Street Boss (USA) x Marrakesh (AUS) (Lonhro (AUS))
Tnr: A & S Freedman Rdr: W Egan 58
3
3.4
Cyclone Coco
- 2c Toronado (IRE) x Decoco (AUS) (Denman (AUS))
Tnr: Clayton Douglas Rdr: L Currie 58
More Reading...
Arkansaw Kid Brother Sells for $520,000
A well-related son of Harry Angel provided a late highlight in the final hour of the 2024 NZB Ready to Run Sale at Karaka on Thursday when he was knocked down to a $520,000 bid from bloodstock agent Morgan Carter.
Sires With Winners - Thursday November 21
Here is the full list of 32 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Million-dollar Hour for Leung at NZB Ready To Run
Hong Kong bloodstock agent Willie Leung had a big hour at Karaka early on Thursday afternoon, spending more than $1 million to secure two well-credentialled colts at the NZB Ready to Run Sale.
Ka Ying Rising connection draws Hayes team to Shamexpress at Karaka
With one of the world’s most exciting sprinters flying the flag for David Hayes in Hong Kong, it has been no surprise to see the trainer’s sons zeroing in on progeny of Windsor Park Stud stallion Shamexpress during the Ready to Run Sale at Karaka this week.
City of Troy Crowned 2024 Cartier European Horse of the Year
Outstanding Justify colt City of Troy was crowned Horse of the Year at the 2024 Cartier awards on Wednesday night in London at a star studded ceremony at the Dorchester Hotel.
Castelvecchio Out for Remainder of Season
Aeliana’s late charge into second place in the $1.5million Group I MRC Thousand Guineas last Saturday stamped her as the filly to follow out of the race, but it wasn’t quite enough to put her sire Castelvecchio to the top of the second season sires list and he is now out of service at Arrowfield following surgery last week.
Blockbuster Sale as NZB Ready to Run Records Tumble
Expectations were exceeded at Karaka with tremendous results witnessed across two days of selling at NZB’S 2024 Ready to Run Sale, confirming the demand for proven racetrack results and quality New Zealand-prepared horses.
Churchill Colt Pulls Off Stunning Pinhooking Result at NZB Ready To Run
Chad Ormsby has enjoyed plenty of racetrack success this year with pinhooks that he has been unable to sell at the Ready to Run Sale, but the multi-talented horseman had a very different outcome with the standout member of his 2024 Riverrock Farm draft at Karaka on Thursday.
One to Watch – Hawkesbury
Castelvecchio has gone from nowhere to somewhere during the course of this spring with three stakes-winners putting his name in lights and he had a promising three year-old colt salute at Hawkesbury on Thursday that has now won two of three starts.
Vale, Danny Champion
The thoroughbred racing industry is in mourning following the passing of respected horseman Danny Champion.