The quick back-up and drop back to a mile worked a treat for the rock-hard fit Sircconi who celebrated a win in Saturday’s Listed $128,000 VRC Winter Championship Series Final (1600m) at Flemington.
The gutsy Nick Ryan-trained gelding absolutely bolted home in the feature race of Finals Day at HQ, jockey Daniel Stackhouse continuing his outstanding season with the Black-Type win.
Recent runner-up in the Swan Hill Cup (1600m) from early June, Nicconi five-year-old Sircconi ran at Caulfield over 2000m last weekend carrying 59kg to second behind Mirimar off a slowly run race.
Sircconi was backed in late from $13 to $10 by the punters at Ladbrokes.com.au ahead of the VRC Winter Championship Series Final 2020, and relished an on-speed ride by Stackhouse.
Stackhouse had his mount settled third behind the leader Holbien who was setting a genuine pace up front.
Holbein lead around the turn for home but was quickly joined by Sircconi who hit the lead at the 300m.
By the furlong, Sircconi was off and gone, extending his winning margin out to four lengths over the final 100m.
Sircconi beat home 40/1 outsider Polly Grey (2nd) from the Chris Waller stables, with the widely-drawn Victoria Star ($9) finishing third just ahead of the beaten Danny O’Brien-trained favourite Plein Ciel ($4.20) in fourth.
“We’ve been dying to back this horse up…we got him here today in terrific order,” winning trainer Ryan told the media.
“Daniel Stackhouse, a terrific ride by him and the back-up really worked.
“That was a dominant win.
“The horse was hard, fit, a terrific performance.
“I thought he was a top three hope…and for him to come out and do that it’s just great to see.
“There’s some lovely owners in this horse. Just to get the win for all them guys today is great.
“He’s just absolutely flying and there’s another mile handicap here in a couple of weeks but I’ll let him tell me.
“Just let the dust settle and see what happens.”
To get behind Sircconi next race at the best winter racing odds head to Ladbrokes.com.au.
2020 VRC Winter Championship Series Final Results
Colour | Finish | No. | Horse | Trainer | Jockey | Margin | Bar. | Weight | Penalty | Starting Price |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | 11 | SIRCCONI | Nick Ryan | Daniel Stackhouse | 13 | 56kg | $10 | |||
2 | 19e | POLLY GREY (NZ) | Chris Waller | Damien Thornton | 4L | 8 | 56kg | $41 | ||
3 | 16 | VICTORIA STAR (NZ) | Greg Eurell | Ben Melham | 4.2L | 12 | 56kg | $9 | ||
4 | 5 | PLEIN CIEL (GER) | Danny O’Brien | Billy Egan | 4.5L | 7 | 59kg | $4.40F | ||
5 | 9 | VASSILATOR (NZ) | Colin Little | Craig Williams | 4.9L | 5 | 57kg | $11 | ||
6 | 1 | REYKJAVIK | Lindsey Smith | Michael Rodd | 5L | 15 | 62kg | $13 | ||
7 | 10 | ROMANCER (NZ) | Grahame Begg | Jordan Childs | 6L | 9 | 56.5kg | $21 | ||
8 | 6 | A SHIN ROOK (JPN) | Anthony Freedman | Jye McNeil | 6.3L | 1 | 58.5kg | $18 | ||
9 | 12 | CHAPEL CITY | Gordon Richards | Jamie Kah | 7.05L | 10 | 56kg | $41 | ||
10 | 15 | NEVER AGAIN | Clinton McDonald | Damien Oliver | 7.35L | 3 | 56kg | $19 | ||
11 | 2 | HEPTAGON (NZ) | Mick Price & Michael Kent (Jnr) | Dean Yendall | 7.45L | 6 | 61kg | $5 | ||
12 | 3 | MOSS ’N’ DALE (NZ) | Peter Gelagotis | Anthony Darmanin | 7.75L | 4 | 59.5kg | $19 | ||
13 | 13 | SAVVY OAK (NZ) | Trent Busuttin & Natalie Young | Michael Dee | 8.75L | 16 | 56kg | $101 | ||
14 | 7 | MR MARATHON MAN (GB) | Michael Moroney | Jamie Mott | 9.15L | 11 | 57kg | $41 | ||
15 | 4 | GREY LION (IRE) | Matthew Smith | John Allen | 9.65L | 14 | 59kg | $71 | ||
16 | 18e | HOLBIEN | Steve Richards | Lachlan King (a) | 11.65L | 2 | 56kg | $15 | ||
14 | SAFIN | David & B Hayes & T Dabernig | Luke Nolen | 0 | ||||||
8 | SHOT OF IRISH | Richard Laming | Michael Walker | 0 | ||||||
17e | NOBLE BOY | Clare Cunningham | Luke Nolen | 0 |
*Table Credit: Racing Australia.