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Niccanova On Track For Stradbroke Bid

3 minute read

Niccanova will be ridden by Jimmy Orman when he makes his return in the 1200-metre Group 2 feature, ahead of another Group 1 Stradbroke Handicap mission at Eagle Farm in June.

The seven-year-old, who ran third in last year's Stradbroke behind Tyzone, hasn't started since finishing second to Soxagon in The Buffering over 1400 metres at Eagle Farm on January 2.

"He's been in work a long time to get ready for this campaign and he's had a couple of jump outs at Toowoomba," Steve Tregea said.

"His first jumpout two weeks ago was just an easy gallop but he was a lot more serious when he won his second one on Tuesday.

"He's going well but he's still a little fat."

Niccanova finished second at his only weight-for-age start when sixth behind eight-time Group 1 winner Verry Elleegant  in the Winx Stakes at Randwick in August last year.

The Victory Stakes is normally run at weight-for-age, but it was a set weights and penalties race last year when Niccanova ran second to Victorem.

In contrast, Trekking is a veteran of 10 weight-for-age starts but has been successful only once in the Group 2 Schillachi Stakes at Caulfield in 2019.

"Niccanova hasn't won at weight-for-age yet but his last run at weight-for-age in Sydney was very good behind Verry Elleegant," Tregea said.

"On the downside, Trekking has the same weight but it's better for us than having to carry more than 60kgs in a handicap."

Tregea will give Niccanova one more start in the Group 1 Kingsford Smith at Eagle Farm on May 29 before the Group 1 Stradbroke Handicap over 1400 metres at Eagle Farm on June 12.

"I'm very happy with the way he's going for the Stradbroke," Tregea said.

"Jimmy (Orman) thought he would have won the Stradbroke when he ran third last year had he not dropped the whip.

"He had four races in Sydney last campaign and went well in two of them.

"He went down for the Epsom but he over-raced and was forced to lead when there was no speed on and finished near last."

Trekking will be reunited with Hall Of Fame jockey Hugh Bowman, who will ride the gelding for the first time since the pair finished third in the Group 3 Red Anchor Stakes at Moonee Valley in October, 2017.

The multiple Group 1 winner tuned up for his Victory Stakes assignment with a five-length win in a 1000-metre barrier trial at Hawkesbury on April 19.

The James Cummings-trained six-year-old hasn't raced since finishing fourth in the Group 1 Winterbottom Stakes in Perth in November last year.


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