Bianconi stars at the ‘Bool

Bianconi galloper Conidel began living up to his potential at the Warrnambool carnival this week.

Conidel (4g Bianconi – Deltrice by Keltrice) raced on the pace in the Hotel Sheedy Hcp (1100m) and then responded under pressure in the straight to defeat Certain Hope (Not A Single Doubt) and Laguna De Bay (High Chaparral).

Owned and trained in Mount Gambier by Ricky Bruhn, the lightly raced gelding had won on debut at Warrnambool on Victorian Oaks day last November.  Given a summer spell, he returned to action with an unlucky second at Hamilton last month after nearly falling midway through the race.

“Conidel is a nice type and was still learning last year,” Bruhn explained at Warrnambool.  “He’s like most of the Bianconi horses I’ve trained – they’re winners!”

Bruhn prepared his dam Deltrice to four wins in Melbourne.  She is a half-sister to LR VRC St Leger winner Inkster (Umatilla) and has also foaled Bruhn’s Dash For Cash winner Cashadel.

The mare has foaled fillies for the last three years to Commands, Churchill Downs and Turffontein.  The last filly was a late November foal and Bruhn left the mare empty.  But Bruhn did send his mares Del de Lago (Encosta de Lago) and Zedawind (Strategic) to Swettenham as part of Bianconi’s book last year.

Bianconi can close the Warrnambool carnival with another winner in Race 10 on Thursday.  Mount Gambier trainer Michael O’Leary has also crossed the border with Light Tan for the Mercedes-Benz Hcp (1400m).

Bianconi (Danzig) has built up a stud career second-to-none in Victoria.  The Swettenham champion has sired 456 winners of 1311 races at an outstanding 61% strike-rate.