21st Stakes-Winner for Nicconi

The Listed MVRC Valley Pearl Stakes (1200m) at Moonee Valley on Saturday was selected as a winnable race for million dollar colts Dio and Wizard of Oz, but they both came up short when overpowered by likable Nicconi filly Scorched Earth.

The John Moloney trained filly was second to Arcaded (who won the Group II Magic Night in Sydney today) in the Group II MRC Blue Diamond Prelude before heading to South Australia where she scored a facile win in the Magic Millions Adelaide 2YO Classic.

With race fitness and experience on her side, Scorched Earth travelled smoothly behind the leaders for Damien Oliver and when switched into clear ground zoomed to the line to beat Sunlight’s full brother Dio ($1.1million Zoustar ) by three-quarters of a length with Wizard of Oz ($1.1million Exceed and Excel) in third place.

Dio and Wizard of Oz were both having their second start and will take improvement from the experience.

“She’s a lovely filly and impressed me in a trial at Geelong, but then I couldn’t ride her when she raced, but have been keeping tabs on her,” said Damien Oliver.

“She was impressive in Adelaide and backed it up again today. I thought we’d lead, but she was happy to take a trail and did that perfectly.”

A $90,000 Magic Millions purchase for her trainer from the draft of Lyndhurst Stud, Scorched Earth has the tidy record of two wins and a second from four starts with prizemoney topping $250,000 and will now head for a well-earned spell.

Bred and sold by the Kruger family’s Lyndhurst Stud Farm at Warwick, she is the best of three winners from unraced Exceed and Excel mare Scorched, a full sister to the Group III ATC Kindergarten Stakes winner Furnaces from the family of Group I winner Melito and exciting young sire Pariah.

Scorched Earth is the 21st stakes-winner Nicconi, who will move to Victoria this spring to stand at the newly branded Widden Stud Victoria.