Last Thursday’s Pinjarra meeting unearthed several smart 3yo maiden winners starting with Niccimota who opened the card with a front-running victory down the straight in the TABtouch Maiden (1000m).
The Nicconi filly sat outside Cozzies Choice (Oratorio) in the opening furlong and then took charge along the grandstand rail to cruise home by three lengths from Sessions pair Starchaser and Dark Opal.
Niccimota’s current campaign began in December and she’s raced once a month since then for placings at Ascot and Pinjarra. Although a beaten favourite at her last two outings, trainer Jim Taylor was confident her turn wasn’t far away.
“She has shown undeniable speed from Day 1 and was able to do it at both ends of the race today,” Taylor said. “It’s onwards and upwards from here! The ear-plugs help her keep something in reserve and we’re looking at another 1000m race in town in two weeks.”
Niccimota was bred by Lynward Park using Widden Victoria stallion Nicconi over Outboard Motors (Sebring) who was a $60,000 buy for the van Heemst family as a broodmare prospect at the 2021 Magic Millions National Sale. She won three times around the Victorian provincials for Lindsay Park and is a half-sister to Multahem (Redoute’s Choice) who won at Belmont and Sandown.
The second foal from Outboard Motors is an unraced 2yo filly with Dan Morton named Riva Aquarama (Star Turn) and her yearling filly has already been registered as Axopar (Bondi). They were both retained by Lynward Park.
Niccimota is owned by a partnership that includes Jim’s wife Tina and mother Lois and races in the Black, White and Green colours that were a carried by top stayer Meliador (Just Great). He came from last to win the 1979 Perth Cup (3200m) in a field headlined by Group 1 winners Arwon (Melbourne Cup) and Taksan (Caulfield Cup).
The late Fred Castledine prepared Meliador and his wife Pat is also in the partnership that paid $120,000 for Niccimota. Before turning to a successful training career, ‘Fearless Fred’ was an integral member of the Swan Districts team that won three WAFL premierships in the 1960s.
