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Gelding hands Widden Stud-based sire Nicconi with his 20th stakes winner

Having surrendered his unbeaten record on his last start, the Kris Lees-trained The Bopper (3 g ex Chicago by Artie Schiller) regained his winning thread when he took out the Brian Crowley Stakes (Listed, 1200m) at Randwick and in so doing handed Widden Stud-based sire Nicconi (Bianconi) with his 20th stakes winner. 

The three-year-old gelding scooted clear in the closing stages to beat Tommy Gold (Sacred Falls) by a length and three-quarters, while On The Lead (I Am Invincible) finished another two and three-quarter lengths clear in third. 

"The plan was to ride just behind the speed," Lees said.

"He got some pretty soft sectionals in the early stages and he was able to show the turn of foot we know he's got."

Purchased by his trainer for $30,000 at the 2019 Inglis Scone Yearling Sale from the Widden Stud draft, the gelding is the only winner out of the winning Artie Schiller (El Prado) mare Chicago and he is the first stakes winner in three generations of his family.

The gelding’s fourth dam is River Liffey (Irish River) and she is the grandam of Listed winner Sarthemare (Street Cry), who in turn produced Group 2 scorer Sesar (Sebring) and Listed winner Doubt Defying (Not A Single Doubt).

Chicago’s colt by Nicconi’s barnmate Outreach (Exceed And Excel) was purchased for $40,000 at this year’s edition of the Inglis Scone Yearling Sale and she produced a filly by that same sire last year, while she has was covered by Vinery Stud’s first-season sire Star Turn (Star Witness) last October. 

Nicconi’s progeny is headed by one Group 1 winner Nature Strip and he is standing for a fee of $27,500 (inc GST).