Stakes Goals for Nicconi 3YO

Ballarat trainer Matt Cumani has always had a good opinion of Nicconi colt Akkadian, who resumed from a spell at his home track on Wednesday to score a tenacious win.

Akkadian was up and running as an early spring two year-old to finish fifth in the Listed VRC Maribyrnong Trial last year and later finished third in the Group II VRC Sires Produce Stakes before finishing unplaced in the Group I ATC Champagne Stakes.

Sent to the paddock winless after that outing, Akkadian was sent out favourite to break the ice in the 1200 metre maiden today and duly got the job done, racing up on the pace for Ben Melham and kicking strongly to the line to hold off Zoustar gelding Starvirgo to win by a head.

It was his first win in eight starts, but there should be many more in store.

“He’s a horse that should have won a race long ago, but we kept stepping him up in class,” said Matt Cumani.

“He was the best horse in this race and I loved the way he fought on.

“We always thought he’d be better over further out to 1600 or even 1800 metres. We’ll look towards the Guineas for him and can always come back a grade from that.”

A $110,000 Magic Millions purchase from the Aquis Farm draft for Matt Cumani/ Boomer Bloodstock, Akkadian runs for a big syndicate of owners including Aquis Farm.

He is the third winner from Garden of Eden, an unraced half-sister by Blackfriars to Group III winner Grand Nirvana. Garden of Eden has a yearling colt to follow by Nicconi,