David Hayes enjoyed plenty of success with former star dual Group I winning sprinter Nicconi, the now highly successful sire giving the Lindsay Park team an impressive juvenile debut winner at Sandown on Wednesday in Dark Horse.
Sent out favourite for the 1000 metre juvenile contest, Dark Horse jumoed from barrier one and travelled in behind the leaders on the fence before accelerating clear in the straight to win by a length.
“He’s always shown us nice ability and we thought he was a Blue Diamond horse, but he kept going shin sore,” said co-trainer Ben Hayes.
“Dad’s middle name is Nicconi! He loves him and this horse is a bit like him. It took a while for Nicconi to get to the races, he was a late maturer too.”
Dark Horse was retained to race by his breeders, who include David Hayes, and is a half-brother to Group II winner Churchill Dancer being the third winner from Dark Review, a half-sister by Second Empire (IRE) to stakes-winner Cohort.
Widden Stud’s Nicconi has a big crop of rising three year-olds, so expect them to make their presence felt in the season ahead.
Nicconi stands at a fee of $27,500 this spring.
