Nic proves Prince Charming

Charming Nic proved himself the prince of Swan Hill on Sunday, March 16.

Starting a red-hot $1.45 favourite, the Tony & Calvin McEvoy-trained three-year-old raced away to win the Elders Swan Hill Maiden (1300m).

At just his second race start, Charming Nic cruised home for jockey Harry Coffey winning by seven lengths from Glass Bay ($26) with Sea Danger ($91), a half-length away third.

The gelding began soundly in the field of 14 but Coffey was able to settle him in fourth spot with a perfect trail behind the leaders.

Turning for home, he angled Charming Nic to the middle of the track and let him leave his rivals struggling.

Winning jockey Harry Coffey said Charming Nic would win better races after the win.

“It was a great result,” Coffey said.

“He was very dynamic today.

“He got a good run, was good in the blinkers and was able to take up a position which was going to have him mighty hard to beat.

“I knew at the top of the straight I was going to win.

“Even though he won easily, he still did things wrong.

“His legs were all over the place, he didn’t get low and gallop properly, yet he still did it with a lot of ease.

“I was really impressed by him, he has continued to improve, yet there is still more to come so that’s exciting.”

After a number of trials and jump outs, Charming Nic didn’t debut until February 25 with a nice fifth at Sandown Hillside.

With that experience, the McEvoys applied the blinkers at Swan Hill and the gelding had a confidence boosting victory.