Nicoletta (NZ) Too Tough in Breeders’ Stakes

Quality mare Nicoletta (NZ) (Savabeel) began her 2018-19 campaign in strong style on Saturday, leading all the way in the $80,000 Group 3 Rich Hill Stud Taranaki Breeders’ Stakes (1400m) at Hawera.

Bought for $90,000 at the 2015 Select Sale, Nicoletta emerged as a black-type performer during her three-year-old season with victory in the Group 3 Desert Gold Stakes (1600m) and a placing in the Group 2 Sir Tristram Fillies’ Classic (2000m).

She was a consistent big-race placegetter last season in the Group 1 Herbie Dyke Stakes (2000m), Group 1 New Zealand Thoroughbred Breeders’ Stakes (1600m) and Group 2 Travis Stakes (2000m).

But Saturday’s performance suggested that Nicoletta’s best may be yet to come.

Ridden by Jonathan Riddell, the five-year-old led all the way and fought strongly in the straight to hold on by a long neck from the fast-finishing Livin’ On A Prayer (NZ) (Redwood) and Art Deco (NZ) (Redwood).

“The weight-for-age conditions suited a quality mare like her, who could sit handy and kick hard, which is what she did,” co-trainer Andrew Forsman told NZ Racing Desk.

Raced by Lib Petagna’s JML Bloodstock, Nicoletta has now had 22 starts for four wins, seven placings and $232,100 in prize-money – more than two and a half times her purchase price.