Melbourne, Vic (Feb 8th, 2010) - Star sprinter Nicconi has been crowned the Goldners Horse Transport 2009 Horse of the Year at the annual South Australian Thoroughbred Breeders award dinner at Morphettville.
Bred by Lindsay Park Stud in partnership with long time stable clients Peter Devitt and Les Gordon, Nicconi has confirmed his status as one of the country’s best racehorses and his award win was truly deserved.

Recently the winner of the Group One Lightning Stakes at Flemington, Nicconi won four races during 2009 including a runaway win over fellow Group One winners Danleigh and Gold Trail in The Galaxy at Randwick.
The son of Bianconi, from the grand producing Scenic mare Nicola Lass, was retained to race by his breeders and as it stands his record reads out at six wins and four minor placings from just 13 starts and earnings of over $988,000.
It was a hotly contested award with Nicconi’s older half-brother Niconero and dual Derby winner Rebel Raider the other contenders for Horse of the Year honours.
Other finalists for the Horse of the Year crown were highly regarded gallopers Alcopop, Augusta Proud, Baughurst, Majestic Music, Serious Speed, Shamoline Warrior, Silent Surround, Symphony Miss and Very Discreet.
Rebel Raider was a runaway winner in the Leading 3YO award, while group winner Silent Surround was judged the best SA bred juvenile of last season.
Popular Kambula Stud based sire Blevic was announced as the SA Stallion of the Year, while Lindsay Park Stud’s Face Value swept both the First Season and 2YO categories.
It was no surprise Nicola Lass was announced as Broodmare of the Year - being the dam of star stablemates Nicconi and Niconero.
Long time South Australian owner/breeders, Ken and Helen Smith were the recipients of the prestigious Matrice Award – for outstanding contribution to the SA industry.
The Smiths have bred and raced a number of high class gallopers and have always supported stallions standing in South Australia.
The majority of their horses to race have carried the “Exalted” prefix and include the likes of Exalted Lad, Exalted Keetah, Exalted Ego and Adelaide Cup winner Exalted Time.
A list of the award winners last night is as follows:
Goldners Horse Transport 2009 Horse of the Year
NICCONI
Atkins Photography 2009 Horse of the Year Finalists
SABIS Awards to Breeders
ALCOPOP
AUGUSTA PROUD
BAUGHURST
MAJESTIC MUSIC
NICCONI
NICONERO
REBEL RAIDER
SERIOUS SPEED
SHAMOLINE WARRIOR
SILENT SURROUND
SYMPHONY MISS
VERY DISCREET
Magic Millions Leading SA Stallion
BLEVIC - Kambula Stud
SA Jockey Club Leading SA 2YO Sire
FACE VALUE - Lindsay Park Stud
Schweppes Australia Leading SA First Season Sire
FACE VALUE - Lindsay Park Stud
Haighs Pty Ltd Broodmare of the Year
NICOLA LASS – Meadowvale Pastoral Co, P Devitt & L Gordon
Hyde Park Press Breeder of Leading SA 2YO
SILENT SURROUND - Dr F Hau
Kentucky Equine Research Breeder of Leading SA 3YO
REBEL RAIDER - Toorak Park Stud
Newmarket Insurance Brokers Leading SA Breeder (Cat 1 by Stakes Winners)
LINDSAY PARK STUD
Newmarket Insurance Brokers Leading SA Breeder (Cat 2 by SA Stallions)
KAMBULA STUD
Yalumba Group One Winner Awards
NICCONI
NICONERO
REBEL RAIDER
Morphettville Equine Clinic Matrice Award
KEN & HELEN SMITH

Tags: SATB
Permalink| Feb 8, 2010

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