Another Stakes-Winning Nicconi Sprinter

The run of success being enjoyed by Nicconi continued on Saturday when his six year-old gelding Faatinah resumed from a spell to score a brilliant victory in the Listed MVRC Carlyon Stakes at Moonee Valley.

Trained by the Hayes / Dabernig partnership at Lindsay Park, Faatinah raced successfully in Dubai earlier this year with a win and a second from three starts in the UAE.

Fresh and ready to fire at his first run off a 21 week spell, Faatinah stalked the leaders in third place for Regan Bayliss and powered to the line to win the 1000 metre dash by half a length in a brisk 57.66 seconds.

“I reckon he’s a better horse than he was this time last year and he won the Bobbie Lewis last year,” David Hayes said.

“His trackwork suggested that he’s never gone better.

“He’s only improved since he’s come back (from Dubai).”

A homebred for Shadwell, foaled and raised at Yarraman Park, Faatinah has the overall record of six wins and eight placings from 26 starts with prizemoney topping $800,000.

A two time Group II winner previously, Faatinah will be given a shot at Group I glory with the MVRC Moir Stakes over 1000 metres at Moonee Valley in September likely to be his next race.

He is the best of four winners from imported Danehill mare Alqwah (IRE), who comes from the family of NZ Horse of the Year King’s Chapel. Alqwah has a yearling colt by I am Invincible and was covered last spring by Nicconi.

Nicconi has covered 200 plus books in his past two seasons and is fully booked again this spring at a fee of $24,750.