Foaled
and raised at Yarraman Park for Sheikh Hamdan's Shadwell Stud, seven year-old Nicconi
gelding Faatinah campaigned successfully in Dubai earlier this year and showed he was back to his very best with
a brave win in the Group II MVRC McKewen Sakes at Moonee Valley on Saturday.
Trained by the Hayes / Dabernig partnership at Lindsay Park, Faatinah was fresh and ready to fire for Jamie Kah, racing up on the pace and kicking on strongly to win the 1000 metre dash by a short neck.
"He has just been flying at home," said co-trainer Ben Hayes.
"He has done it two years in a row. He came back from Dubai and won
first-up last year and now he has done it again today."He's a great fresh horse."
Faatinah has the overall record of eight wins and 10 placings from 35 starts with prizemoney topping $1.2 million.
A two time Group II winner previously, Faatinah is a half-brother to stakes-placed Jalsah and is the best of five winners from imported Danehill mare Alqwah (IRE), who comes from the family of NZ Horse of the Year King's Chapel.
Alqwah has a two year-old colt by I am Invincible called Abwaaq that is also trained at Lindsay Park and has a yearling colt by Faatinah's sire Nicconi.
Faatinah is the first stakes-winner ofthe new season for Nicconi, who stands at Widden Stud at a fee of $38,500 this spring.
