First Carnival Win For Hayes

Thursday, 08 November 2012 02:57

NiconoiseThe Hayes/Devitt/Gordon team won the Swisse Wellness Trophy at Flemington this afternoon with Niconoise, a brother to Group 1 winners Nicconi and Niconero.

The win was Hayes first during Melbourne Cup week.

"I've been peppering the goals and getting really close and running great sectionals without winning so it was nice and Michael Walker gave him a great ride", Hayes said.

Walker and Hayes combined to finish an unlucky third in the Group 1 Victoria Derby with Rawnaq, so they were happy to pick up today's race as a consolation prize.

"Niconoise is very talented and Michael was absolutely shattered after the Derby (unlucky Rawnaq) so it was nice for him to get one up here."

NiconoiseWalker rode Niconoise ($8-$9) just off the pace before coming with a perfectly timed run to beat Commanding Time ($5.00-$6.00-$4.60F) by three quarters of a length with 2 lengths to Pelicano ($8.50-$11) which flew home from well back to finish third.

"Before the race we just wanted the horse to find his happy medium and his rhythm", Walker said.

"He travelled so good and I helped him get around the corner because he gets unbalanced but as soon he straightened he was strong."

"He is still not there mentally but I think the more he wins, the more confidence he will get and the better he will be."

Still an entire at four years of age, Niconoise has been given time to develop by Hayes.

Return to Scale"This is a brother to Niconero and Nicconi and I think he is more the Niconero mould and I think in the next year or so he will develop into a Group horse", Hayes observed.

"He is one that has got a great temperament and he is a bit like me, a slow learner."

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