Moonee Valley racegoers were expecting a match race between Black And Bent and Oak Heart in the Banjo Paterson Hcp on Saturday but unheralded stayer Niptious didn’t read the script.

Niptious (6g Rokosz-Rustic Ruler by Rustic Amber) led from barrier to box to defeat Black And Bent by the barest of margins.  Oak Heart was a length astern in third place.

Niptious provided Kyneton trained Danny Curran with his first ever city win and it was long time coming.  The closest Curran had been to a city winner was with Sports Circuit who was beaten a nose by Palos Verdes in the 1998 Bagot Handicap at Flemington.

Niptious (6g Rokosz-Rustic Ruler by Rustic Amber) was originally prepared by Matt Hyland but found his way into Curran’s stable after just four starts.  “He was originally trained as a sprinter, but since we started trying him as a stayer he hasn’t put a foot wrong,” Curran said.  “He has been a good honest horse for us and the only time he’s missed a cheque was in the Kyneton Cup.”

Rokosz (Danzig) originally stood in Victoria but dropped off Australian Stud Book records after moving to Orchid Lodge in NSW in 2003.
Niptious is from Rustic Ruler whose immediate pedigree is devoid of black-type apart from Listed AJC Emancipation Stakes winner Clavell’s Girl (Taipan II).

Rustic Ruler won at Benalla in 1999 but was also dropped from ASB records in 2008.