Unbeaten Nicconi 3YO Impresses

Nicconi always has a promising horse on the horizon with the Tony Pike-trained Not Ideal indicating a promising future lies ahead of him after he maintained his winning ways at Tauranga in New Zealand on Thursday.

The Nicconi three-year-old made a successful debut over 1400m at Hastings last month with his trainer keen on testing him against the best of his age group in the Gr.2 Auckland Guineas (1600m) at Ellerslie on New Year’s Day.

When the strength of that field was revealed Pike took an easier option by tackling the older horses over 1600m in rating 65 company at Tauranga, a move which proved successful as Not Ideal (image courtesy Race Images)  sat outside the speed throughout before drawing clear in the run home to make it two wins from two starts.

Rider Michael McNab, who was having his first ride on the horse, was suitably impressed with the effort.

“He’s shown good talent and is a lovely big horse with a bright future,” he said.

“He jumped well and put himself there and travelled well.

“He was looking around a fair bit in the last 200m, but he’s a good big-actioned horse who is still learning his craft.”

Pike stable representative Dean Williams was also pleased with the effort but believes the gelding still has a lot to learn,

“It pretty much worked out how we thought but he’s still a bit green,” he said.

“He was good through the line and it was good to get the job done.

“He’s not that dissimilar to Surely Sacred at this time of the year, a bit green and still working the game out, but definitely with a bright future.

“He’s handling the racing well and we definitely think he can get 2000m and then a touch further.”

Not Ideal is the third foal of Encosta De Lago mare, Champagne Crystal and hails from an extended family that includes Gr.1 Melbourne Cup (3200m) winner At Talaq.

Nicconi has a strong hand at upcoming sales with 10 entries for Magic Millions and 18 for Inglis Classic.