Promising Naiconi wins easily

Promising three-year-old filly Naiconi thrashed her rivals for a confidence boosting victory on the Ballarat Synthetic on Monday, October 31.

Sensationally backed from $1.80 into $1.18 favourite, Naiconi raced away to win the Whitford Liquid Waste Maiden (1200m) by four lengths.

The Tony & Calvin McEvoy-trained daughter of champion sire Nicconi was ridden by Dean Holland and gave her supporters little cause for concern.

After beginning nicely, Naiconi settled outside the leader before being asked to sprint for home.

Holland had a look under his shoulder 200 metres out and allowed the filly to stroll home.

El Capony ($14) came in second, 1-3/4 lengths in front of Diamanda ($31).

Naiconi was placed in two of her three starts in her first preparation and looks to have come back a more mature filly.

Trainer Calvin McEvoy was delighted with the win.

“That was fantastic,” McEvoy said.

“It was a nice ride by Dean (Holland), he rode her like the best horse in the race.

“Back in this grade, that is what we expected her to do, and it was lovely to see her do it.

“We threw her in the deep end last prep, and she didn’t quite get it right in stakes company.

“We’ll take her through her grades, and hopefully she can.

“A shout out to the nice ownership group including Pete and Sam Dossett, Jennifer and Mark Hinkley; it was great to get a win for them.

“We think she is a metro class filly at minimum.

“We’ll probably go to a Wednesday (meeting) now and find a filly’s race for her, but she has a nice future.”

Jockey Dean Holland said he had expected Naiconi to win.

“She went like we thought she would,” Holland said.

“She showed a lot last prep and has come back bigger and stronger.

“Mentally, she is really there at the moment.

“She went to the gates like she was a 10-year-old gelding and came back after the race like she hadn’t been around.

“It was literally a track gallop for her – she has got plenty of ability.

“I think it worked out well as she had one to follow early.

“She is definitely city class.

“She will gain a lot of improvement from today’s win.”