Graeme Murray’s impressive last start winner Nicci’s Song will be looking to take the next step when she lines up in the Vinery Stud Handicap (900m) at Newcastle on Wednesday.
Newcastle plays host to this week’s midweek metropolitan meeting due to the ongoing COVID-19 situation in Sydney.
Nicci’s Song was coming off a 16-week break when she demolished her opponents by 3-1/4 lengths at Goulburn two weeks ago, with the Kembla Grange-based trainer reporting she’s come through the run well.
Murray thought Nicci’s Song may not have been fit enough the four-year-old was left with a cut in her mouth following an incident during trackwork.
“I thought she may have been a fraction underdone,” he said.
“We really hadn’t had a jockey on her for two weeks leading up to the run, we just swam her and put her on the treadmill.
“She had a bad cut in her mouth, she got away on one of the trackwork riders one day and he must’ve cut her mouth with the bit.
“In saying that, she was ready to go to the races a month before that (the first-up run).
“We were quite happy with her going into the race even though we hadn’t had a jockey on her and she hadn’t had a serious gallop in a fortnight.”
It’s a family affair when Nicci’s Song goes to the races, with the Murray family having bred and broken in the mare themselves.
It’s proved a winning formula, with the four-year-old boasting four wins from just eight career starts as well as the 1000m record at Albury.
Murray said it’s satisfying seeing it all come together on race day.
“It’s very fulfilling, when you breed them and all the plans come together and get them to the racetrack, that’s the hardest part, getting them to the racetrack,” he said.
“But we got her to the track, and she showed good ability.
“This preparation and next preparation I think we’ll start seeing the best of her.”
The daughter of Nicconi is now forced to make the jump to metropolitan racing with her benchmark rating making her tough to place in the country.
The Kembla Grange-based horseman said he planned on taking the four-year-old to town earlier in her career, but instead opted to keep her in the country to keep her benchmark rating lower.
“At the moment we’re in the weaker company, we’re in the winter racing so we’re not racing against any of the top-line horses,” he said.
“I’m very happy we’re going to the midweek’s now.
“I did have plans on taking her to the midweek’s earlier on in her career, at her third or fourth start I wanted to take her to town after that.
“But once you take them to town the Handicapper gets you and just wrecks their career’s if they’re any good.
“So, we just thought we’d take up the BOBS bonus and take her around the country and teach her to race there, so once we get to the city, she’ll know a lot more about it.
“(We’re) Very happy with her.”
Article from JustHorseRacing.com.au