Bianconi retains Victorian crown

Swettenham Stud stallion Bianconi clinched his second Victorian premiership when Prosaic prevailed in a thrilling finish to the Thelma Winch Maiden (1100m) at Northam on Thursday.

Bianconi won the Victorian winners’ title with 91 last year and Prosaic helped him crack 100 Australian winners this season.  His progeny have won 154 races in 2009-10 which gives him a big enough lead over second-placed Bel Esprit (92 winners of 150 races).

Bianconi’s world-wide record stands at 359 winners of 547 races.  The winners have arrived at a 57.6% strike rate.  

Prosaic (3f Bianconi – Superb Trick by Favorite Trick) was racing second-up after a four month spell.  She was a beaten favourite when resuming in the Avon Valley earlier this month but had excuses after being blocked for a run in the straight.

The century maker is trained by Jeff Pike for Karnup Farm owner Jeremy Hayes who has been breeding winners at his Serpentine property since the 1970s.

Prosaic’s dam Superb Trick is a half-sister to G2 WA Oaks winner Reflected Image (Bluebird).  The mare has a colt and filly in the pipeline by Touchstone Farm sire Flying Pegasus.

Nicconi has been Bianconi’s chief earner for the last two years.  He accumulated $455,000 in 2008-09 highlighted by the AJC The Galaxy.  The Lindsay Park sprinter collected another $475,000 this season with a career-high victory in the VRC Ligthning Stakes.  

Nicconi retires to Widden Stud a as a millionaire.  He earned $ 990,850 in Australia and another 16,110 pounds (AUD 27,100) for finishing fourth in the G1 King’s Stand Stakes at Royal Ascot.

Bianconi was G2 winner of the Diadem Stakes at Royal Ascot in 1998.  He is by breed-shaping sire Danzig and his dam Fall Aspen foaled the Group 1 winners Hamas, Fort Wood, Timber Country, Northern Aspen and the dams of Group 1 winners Dubai Millennium and Elnadim.

Bianconi will stand for a $10,000 fee at Swettenham in 2010.