Wayne Davis rode his first metropolitan winner in more than four years when the Doug Harrison-trained Nicskioffski kicked back strongly to beat the favourite Languish at Sandown.
Davis, 41, has had a long association with the Harrison family since first being apprenticed to Doug’s father, the late Tom Harrison, in 1989.
Sent out at $15 in Wednesday’s Hyland Race Colours Hcp (1000m) for two-year-old fillies, the daughter of Gonski found plenty under pressure after being headed to score by a long neck from Languish ($1.80 fav) with Popular Acclaim ($3.70) the same margin away third.
Davis said Nicskioffski was his first city winner since riding Wind And Water to victory, also on the Sandown Hillside circuit, on December 5, 2007.
“He’s a great guy. He’s always there every morning, doesn’t complain, doesn’t get the opportunities all the time but if he gets on one and if it can gallop, they’ll win,” Harrison said of Davis.
A $9000 yearling purchase at the Inglis second sale in Melbourne, Nicskioffski reared jumping out of the barrier when seventh of eight on debut at Moonee Valley, but won a two-year-old fillies maiden at Mornington a week later on January 20 before making it two straight on Wednesday.
“She’s as tough as nails,” Harrison said.
Nicskioffski is part-owned by Harrison’s brother Tony who supplied Davis’ only Group One winner of his career, Acushla Marie, in the 1992 STC Winfield (now Coolmore) Classic (1500m) at Rosehill.
Davis said he won 10 of 13 rides on Acushla Marie including three Group wins in four weeks and also won the Darwin Cup for Tony Harrison aboard Clam’s Comet the same year.
“I’ve done a lot of travelling interstate. I’ve won a lot of races over the Darwin Cup carnival over the years,” he said.
“I give my heart and soul to Doug’s stable because he’s so loyal and if you do the hard yards he will reward you.
“I’m there six days a week but if you don’t put in you don’t get anything out.”
Davis spent eight years riding in Tasmania and won a Hobart Cup on Lord Baracus in 2000, but returned the following year to renew his partnership with the Harrison stable.
“I won a Sale Cup for Doug and numerous other races but it’s all about opportunity and chance,” he said.
He described Nicskioffski as “a bit of a madam”.
“Sometimes with her antics she’s a bit of a handful but when they can gallop like that you put up with them,” he said.
“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.”
