The dreamers, the story-tellers, the poets among us in the racing industry all believe that the game’s results are written in the stars.
It’s theatre for the viewers.
Well, perhaps we get to see that theme played out at Wagga Wagga today when the maiden galloper PRINCE NICCONI (Nicconi – Lil Red Corvette) races.
He bobs up in race 4 over 1000m and has Nick Heywood in the saddle.
Now a 3YO, it would be good if he won. Because this is the horse from Heaven.
You may recall that on 25 July last year, a 2YO named HOT ’N’ HAZY (Snitzel – Radiant Angel) fell heavily after being on speed at Rosehill.
He lost his life.
His rider Andrew Adkins was so badly injured he ended up in hospital for several days and in rehab for several months.
His trainer, Danny Williams, was in tears at the track. He loves his horses but this one was different.
With tears streaming down his face, he told the media watching on, “he’s probably the best horse I’ve ever trained,” said the mentor at the time. He had only had one start prior and it was a win.
The loss was crushing and felt by the entire racing industry, big syndicator James Harron among them.
Harron did not know Williams, had never met him previously, but was himself moved to tears when he read about what the horse meant to the trainer.
So he reached out to him and said he would buy a horse for him to train. The entire racing fraternity was again moved, this time in a beautiful, positive way.
And, true to his word, Harron a few months later, did buy one.
That horse is Prince Nicconi. Harron kept a chunk of the new horse too.
Williams, who knew he had something special in Hot ’N’ Hazy the day he won on debut at Wagga Wagga, takes Prince Nicconi to the same track this afternoon hoping for the same result.
If fairytales and universal justice are real, then the Prince lands the cash.
The race is on at 3:10pm.
I’ll be cheering him on.
