Australia: Niccanova set for quick return in Brisbane Handicap

Last Saturday, the veteran Australian gelding Niccanova was third by slightly less than a length in the Tattersall’s Recognition Stakes at Doomben.

Friday, Niccanova is entered in the $93,275 Brisbane Handicap at about a mile at Doomben in what will be the quickest turnaround of his career, but a situation far from unprecedented.

A winner of 10 of 43 starts, Niccanova, 8, has returned to action with a one-week layoff seven times in his career, which began in January 2017. The rapid sequence of races has worked on occasion. On three consecutive Saturdays last December and January, Niccanova finished sixth, second, and second in minor stakes.

Trained by Steve Tregea, Niccanova won the Group 2 Victory Stakes at six furlongs at Eagle Farm Racecourse in Brisbane on May 1, but is winless in his last five starts.

Tregea is a co-owner and the first trainer of the star Australian older horse Incentivise, second as the favorite in the Melbourne Cup last month.

Niccanova is a five-time stakes winner, including the 2019 Brisbane Handicap. In the Recognition Stakes at 6 3/4 furlongs, Niccanova was near the front before finishing behind Tambo’s Mate and Tumbler’s Ridge.

Niccanova is part of a field of 12 in the Brisbane Handicap and was rated as the third choice in the wagering at 7-2 on Wednesday. The Brisbane Handicap is part of a seven-race program that begins at 11:07 p.m. Eastern, or 8:07 p.m. Pacific, on Thursday. Wagering is available through DRFBets.com.

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Kubrick, who has won his last two starts, or Ligulate, a nine-time winner who has yet to win a stakes, will be favored. They were 5-2 as of Wednesday.

Kubrick won the $682,200 Bondi Stakes for Southern Hemisphere 3-year-olds at Royal Randwick Racecourse in October 2019, but lost his next 20 starts. The losing streak ended in a handicap at a mile at Doomben on Oct. 23. Trained by Chris Waller, Kubrick followed that win with a comprehensive victory by 3 1/2 lengths in a one-mile handicap at Doomben on Nov. 13.

Waller won the Melbourne Cup last month with Verry Elleegant.

Ligulate, 6, was second by a half-length in a Mooloolaba Cup as the 3-2 favorite at a mile at Sunshine Coast Racecourse on Nov. 20, closing from ninth in a field of 14. Ligulate won a handicap at 7 1/2 furlongs at Eagle Farm Racecourse on Nov. 6, his first victory in four starts since February.