3 minute read
A horse that won his first start as a 2YO at Caulfield, won at Group 3 level at his second start, has had six different training combinations and at his most recent runs was unplaced in two picnic races in Victoria, could well be the best bet on the card in Hobart on Sunday.
Tony Nicconi started out with David Hayes and won his first start In June 2018 by four lengths at Caulfield, he then won the Vain Stakes at his next run but has only won one race since, that was a BM84 at Caulfield in January 2020.
Prior to coming to Tasmania, he ran eighth and fifth at two picnic runs in country Victoria. The 7YO has recently been purchased by Maree Wells and will make his Tasmanian debut on Sunday, in the Ladbrokes It BM60 (1100m). Tony Nicconi will go into the race off the back of an impressive eight-length trial win at the track 12 days ago.
"He did trial good, if he lives up to that on race day, he'll be very hard to beat.
"He's a lovely little horse and touchwood he's as sound as a bell. He did trial well and he's worked well since so I think they will know he's about," trainer Leon Wells predicted.
"We've taken all the gear off him, he trialled with nothing on, and he'll race with nothing on so we will just see how he goes."
The father/sons combination of Leon, Dean and Trent Wells will take a team of eight to the meeting in Hobart on Sunday and look to have strong chances with nearly all of their entries, starting with Gee Gee Miss Quita in the opening event, the Lindisfarne AFL Masters, BM76 (1600m).
"She'll be very hard to beat, she's done well since and mares in form they stay in form for a fair while as a rule and she hasn't lost anything since her last run."
Gee Gee Miss Quita has won four of her past seven starts but is yet to win over 1600m. She has been placed at two of four tries at the trip.
The lightly raced Shim, a winner two starts back and unlucky when unplaced last time, contests the AYC Netball Club, Class 1 (1200m).
"She had no luck, everywhere Chloe (jockey Chloe Wells) went to go was a dead end. All she needed was a little bit of luck at the top of the straight and if she has that this week, she will be hard to beat, she's got a fair bit of talent this little filly."
Shim was an impressive winner in maiden company when fresh from a spell on 16 April before that unlucky 10th two weeks ago. Wells' also has Gee Gees Choris contesting the 1200m event.
Geegees Royal Duke and Geegees Sunshine step out in the Racing Connect Maiden (1100m) and Wells rates them both strong each-way chances.
Gee Gee Silentnite who went within a stride of causing a boil over when resuming two weeks ago, rises in class to tackle a BM68 over 1400m while Gee Gee True Story and Tony Nicconi round out the day for team Wells in the last race of the day.
"Gee Gee True Story has been in work a fair while, he's a stable favourite, he keeps paying the chaff bill actually, he's always there somewhere."
Pressed for the best from the stable, Wells thought the team could bookend the day with Gee Gee Miss Quita in the first and Tony Nicconi in the last.
