New Stakes-Winner for Nicconi
Progressive gelding William Thomas scored a career best win in the Listed MRC Bel Esprit Stakes (1100m) at Caulfield on Saturday with his sire Nicconi making it a race to race double when Group I placed Lankan Star won the very next race.
Prepared at Cranbourne by John Price, William Thomas thrived on a seven day back up, charging home from last to win by a length and a half.
“From memory, he’s batted up after seven days before and this was the second time, and in a nice race today,” Price said.
“I was starting to come to the conclusion that he’s a good horse but not quite up there with the better ones.
“But he was pretty impressive today and I just love his versatility.
“He showed that he can get 1400 metres last time and yet he’s coming back from 1200 to 1100 today.”
William Thomas was a $110,000 Magic Millions Adelaide purchase from the Maluka Thoroughbreds draft for owner Shirley Prosser and was a successful pinhook having been bought for $13,000 at the Magic Millions National Weanling Sale from the Riverslea Farm draft.
He has the overall record of seven wins and five placings from 20 starts with prizemoney in excess of $456,000.
Bred by Riverslea Farm, William Thomas is the best of two winners from Fastnet Rock mare Girls Rock, who was exported to China after he was born.
He is the 19th stakes-winner for Nicconi, who had a fee increase last year to $38,500 and covered 113 mares.
