Category Archives: Gonski

Nicskioffski toughs it out

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Nicskioffski (2 f Gonski – Cymbidium, by Noalcoholic) showed she has plenty of heart when winning the $30,000 Hyland Race Colours 2yo Fillies Hcp (1000m) at Sportingbet Sandown Park on Wednesday.

The daughter of Gonski started at $15 and found plenty under pressure after being headed to score by a long neck from the $1.80 favourite Languish (Exceed And Excel) with Popular Acclaim (Exceed And Excel) the same margin away third.

Trainer Doug Harrison paid just $9000 for Nicskioffski as a yearling at the 2010 Melbourne Autumn Sale ¬†and she has now won two of her three starts. Harrison has his stable in good form of late and he described Nicskioffski as “a bit of a madam”.

Nicskioffski was ridden by Wayne Davis who said,¬†”Sometimes with her antics she’s a bit of a handful but when they can gallop like that you put up with them, she’s as tough as nails.¬†Whatever she does this preparation she’ll be better for as a three-year-old.”

“When she rounds her mannerisms and matures that little bit more she’ll be a very nice filly.”

Widden and Darley get Tuesday doubles

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Local trainer Matthew Williams did the right thing by Hunter Valley operation Widden Stud by producing a double from the breeder’s impressive line-up at Tuesday’s Warrnambool meeting.

Williams prepared Janszoon (Lucky Owners – First Ashore, by High Estate) to win the Hairroom 116 Maiden Plate (1700m) before High Class Lady handled her older rivals easily in the Melbourne Marriott Hotel Handicap (1200m).

Meanwhile, Darley Sires Reset (Zabeel – Assertive Lass, by Zeditave) and Gonski (Danehill – Abonnement, by Marauding) combined for a Tuesday double at Ballina and Warrnambool.

The Gonski filly Siwa Lady (Gonski – Siwa, by Green Desert) proved too speedy for her opposition in the Brant Murrihy Demolitions Maiden (1000m) at Warrnambool. Victoria has proven a happy hunting ground for Gonski with half of his 10 winners for the season coming in the southern state.

La Cavenne (Reset – Hill Of Peace, by Danehill) completed Darley’s dual success when the mare claimed the Slipway Hotel Handicap (1000m) at Ballina.

NZ winner for Nadeem

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Young Darley stallion Nadeem (Redoute’s Choice – Candide, by Sound Reason) earned his first winner in New Zealand as part of a successful Wednesday for the worldwide breeding operation.

Military Reign’s (Nadeem – Girl Like You, by Rory’s Jester) win in the Races B4 The Rugby Maiden (1100m) at Arawa Park was one of eight wins on either side of the Tasman Sea for current Darley sires.

Last season’s Australian champion sire Lonhro (Octagonal – Shadea, by Straight Strike) led the way with a double at Canterbury. The Chris Waller-trained Hoylonny (Lonhro – Roedean, by Flying Spur) scored in the Rosehill on Facebook Maiden (1200m) before Lohengrin (Lonhro – Suede, by Quest For Fame) claimed the Ascot Club Handicap (1100m).

Darley’s band of sires dominated the Sandown Lakeside meeting, winning four of the seven races contested. Zubbaya (Dubawi – Sabkha, by Green Desert) and Typeface (Elusive Quality – Lucida, by Danehill) carried Darley’s famous maroon and white colours to victory while The Kitkat Kid (Gonski – Sharna Cabarna, by Dolphin Street) remained unbeaten with his second win from as many starts.

Fantastic Light mare Princess Fontaine (Fantastic Light – Dandasila, by Danehill Dancer) completed Darley’s quartet of wins at Sandown. Oak Street (Commands – Restless Dream, by Rory’s Jester) provided a Brisbane leg to Darley’s wins when the gelding won the Sky Racing World Class 3 (1400m) at Eagle Farm.

Darley trifecta at Geelong

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A trifecta in Friday’s J T Dixon Geelong Maiden Plate (1100m) on the Geelong Synthetic track provided the highlight of a prolific day for Darley sires.

Caulfield trainer Robert Smerdon produced The Kitkat Kid (Gonski РSharna Cabarna, by Dolphin Street) to win the $12,000  race in fine style on debut, beating another debutant, the Peter Snowden-trained Glows (Canny Lad РLustre, by Quest For Fame).

Subtle Charm (Elusive Quality – Fancy That, by Volksraad) completed the Darley sires’ monopoly on the placings.

Earlier, Ad Valorem (Danzig – Classy Women, by Relaunch) provided the first winner for Anthony Freedman when the Darley-owned filly Boredom (Ad Valorem – Insouciance, by Quest For Fame) fought hard to claim the GRC Function & Events Centre Maiden (1900m).

Boredom became the first Australian progeny of Ad Valorem to win past 1400 metres. Ad Valorem’s stock have won up to 2200 metres in Europe during the northern hemisphere season.

Boredom also took Ad Valorem to the top of the Australian second-season sires by winners’ table.

Darley’s win machine Commands was also among the winners on Friday, producing a two-state double with winners in Queensland and NSW. The Bryan Guy-trained Oak Street (Commands – Restless Dream, by Rory’s Jester) won the I-Knead My Passenger Handicap (1200m) while Siegel (Commands – Vegas, by Canny Lad) claimed the App Pro Chemical Handicap (1300m) at Taree/