Wow! Nicconi Mare Graceful Girl Explodes to Win $1million G1 Winterbottom
Bob and Sandra Peters have bid farewell this year to two of their Group I superstar mares in Arcadia Queen and Celebrity Queen, both sold at broodmare sales for a combined total of $5.7million, but they have an able replacement in brilliant sprinter Graceful Girl.
Trained by Grant and Alana Williams, four year-old mare Graceful Girl has worked her way through the grades winning a Listed race at her final run last season in June before heading for a spell.
She’s been in top form this preparation and was a great last start second to Elite Street in the Group III WATC Colonel Reeves Stakes before rolling the dice in the $1million Group I WATC Winterbottom Stakes (1200m).
Drawn the outside in the big field of 16, Graceful Girl was allowed to settle at the tail of the field by Willie Pike and was a clear last turning for home.
Angled to the outside, the daughter of Nicconi unleashed a dazzling change of gear that saw her charge past the leaders and race clear to win by nearly three lengths in an amazing performance over Stageman, who is also raced by Bob and Sandra Peters.
“We won it a few years ago when it was a Group II, but it’s nice to win it as a Group I,” said Bob Peters.
“We knew that she has to be ridden the way she likes to race which is to be out the back which suited her today.”
A homebred for Bob and Sandra Peters, Graceful Girl has the overall record of six wins and four placings from 11 starts with prizemoney in excess of $880,000.
She is a full sister to Group III winner State Solicitor and half-sister to Group II winner Respondent and is the third stakes-winner among nine winners from top producing Group II winner Avenida Madero, who was retired from stud duty in 2020.
Her last foal is a two year-old filly by Nicconi that has already been named Regal Statue.
Graceful Girl is the second Group I winner for Nicconi, who is best known as the sire Everest hero Nature Strip. Now based at Widden Stud Victoria, he stands at a fee of $27,500.
