Latest news with #Niance
News.com.au
3 days ago
- General
- News.com.au
Niance returns with dominant win in Bel Esprit Stakes at Caulfield after recovering from mystery skull fracture
Aspiring top class sprinter Niance picked up where she left off last spring – albeit without infected bone fragments in her skull – for a dominant Listed Bel Esprit Stakes (1200m) victory at Caulfield. The Grahame Begg -trained flyer comfortably accounted for race-fit Cleo Cat and Aviatress in her first start back from a mystery cracked skull. Niance was being rested for an Oakleigh Plate campaign when staff discovered the significant injury. 'She cracked her skull and had fragments taken out,' Begg said. 'The problem was we didn't know how she injured herself. She was in the paddock and they found her, she had swelling to her skull. 'There wasn't any sign of any head trauma or anything, we were a bit miffed what happened to her. 'We had to do surgery on her to remove the (infected bone) fragments, once we got all that cleaned up and looked after he very well … she's bounced through it and onwards and upwards.' Niance is back in a big way taking out the Listed Bel Esprit Stakes giving the Begg stable a Caulfield double! @Grahame_Begg @daniel_moor @AceBloodstock â€' 7HorseRacing ðŸ�Ž (@7horseracing) May 31, 2025 • Niance powered to victory on Saturday, cruised wide in the run and took over quickly in the straight. 'She's a gun,' Begg said after favourite Niance sealed a Caulfield double for the stable. 'Never knows how to run a bad race. 'She was in a good rhythm all the way through, I just said to (jockey) Daniel (Moor) keep it smooth, it doesn't matter if you're wide because … she's got a great will to win this mare. 'I'm sure there's better things in store for her.' Begg has a Group 2 option in Queensland to consider but indicated the Group 3 The Heath 1100 at Caulfield in August could parlay better into the spring with ultimate Group 1 aspirations. Niance has won seven of 11 starts including the past three in stakes' company. • Big Swinger's stunning burst bails out favourite backers 'To be able to bounce back and come through that (injury) … she hasn't missed a beat,' Begg said. 'She gave us all the indication she prepped up really well for today, it was the ideal race for her. 'She's done a good job to come back and do what she has done today.' Moor appreciated the pick-up ride on Niance and nailed the brief. 'She's not a huge horse but she's got a great length of stride,' Moor said. 'In a matter of two strides we'd gone from being two lengths off them to right at them and I just wanted her to harness that in the right way … wanted to give her that balanced up set up to let rip.' Begg's first winner on Saturday's card, Splash Back, was equally impressive, charging to victory in the 1200m Fillies and Mares Benchmark 78.
News.com.au
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- News.com.au
On The Punt: Caulfield best bets for Saturday May 31, 2025
News Corp form analyst Chris Vernuccio takes a look at the Caulfield meeting on Saturday. â– â– â– â– â– BEST BET NIANCE (R8 No.7): Niance won both starts last spring, including the Group 3 How Now Stakes over subsequent Group 1 placegetter She's Bulletproof. The five-year-old mare missed the autumn after a paddock accident but has looked sharp in her trials. She has the talent to measure up in better races. NEXT BEST JIMMY THE BEAR (R6 No.3: Jimmy The Bear made a great return at Caulfield when he chased home War Machine, who has since won again and is now the favourite for the Group 1 Stradbroke Handicap. The Patrick and Michelle Payne gelding has excellent second-up form with two wins and two seconds from four runs, and he has three wins at 1600m. BIG SWINGER (R3 No.1): Three-year-old Big Swinger thrashed his rivals first-up in a Benchmark 64 at Pakenham before stepping up to the Group 2 Arrowfield Sprint where he finished a close fifth as favourite.
Herald Sun
4 days ago
- Sport
- Herald Sun
Comeback mare Niance primed to strike in Bel Esprit Stakes at Caulfield
Don't miss out on the headlines from Horse Racing. Followed categories will be added to My News. Group 3-winner Niance could be the beneficiary of a high-pressure Listed Bel Esprit Stakes (1100m) on Saturday at Caulfield. The Grahame Begg-trained mare, a six-time winner from 10 starts including Listed and Group 3 races last campaign, has drawn out but should land within striking distance behind the speed. • PUNT LIKE A PRO: Become a Racenet iQ member and get expert tips – with fully transparent return on investment statistics – from Racenet's team of professional punters at our Pro Tips section. SUBSCRIBE NOW! The 1100m sprint is loaded with on-pace horses including Cleo Cat, Recommendation, Midwest, Fickle and Acromantula. 'She's got good gate speed, tactical speed herself,' Begg said. 'She doesn't have to lead to be able to win a race. 'Hopefully she'll get a nice sit on them and give herself every chance. 'She's ticked every box so far.' • Hoop in race against time to retain Victorian licence Niance is a $2.40 favourite from Cleo Cat ($5) and Recommendation ($8). 'It looks a nice race for her,' Begg said. 'A very competitive race, a pretty strong race for this time of year. 'I've seen other years gone by they haven't had full fields.' Niance makes her return at Caulfield on Saturday. Picture: Michael Klein The 15-horse field on Saturday, following the withdrawal of Pisanello, is the biggest since 2020. Niance has primarily raced in fillies and mares restricted company to date but Begg said the five-year-old could 'take the next step'. • Streak that started in Towong goes on line in city debut 'We'll have to think about things after Saturday, what the right path to go with her,' Begg said. 'There's certainly races like the Monash and Bletchingly stakes … we'll study the programs, how they shape up and go from there. 'She won two stakes races last spring against the mares, so we certainly think highly of her and think she's certainly got the ability to take the next step.' Begg has Splash Back resuming on Saturday in a 1200m Benchmark 78. 'She's a nice mare, a pretty progressive horse,' Begg said. 'She's running at 1200m which will be interesting, it's short of her best distance but it's a nice start off point for her.' Originally published as Comeback mare Niance primed to strike in Bel Esprit Stakes at Caulfield
News.com.au
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- News.com.au
Comeback mare Niance primed to strike in Bel Esprit Stakes at Caulfield
Group 3-winner Niance could be the beneficiary of a high-pressure Listed Bel Esprit Stakes (1100m) on Saturday at Caulfield. The Grahame Begg -trained mare, a six-time winner from 10 starts including Listed and Group 3 races last campaign, has drawn out but should land within striking distance behind the speed. The 1100m sprint is loaded with on-pace horses including Cleo Cat, Recommendation, Midwest, Fickle and Acromantula. 'She's got good gate speed, tactical speed herself,' Begg said. 'She doesn't have to lead to be able to win a race. 'Hopefully she'll get a nice sit on them and give herself every chance. 'She's ticked every box so far.' Niance is a $2.40 favourite from Cleo Cat ($5) and Recommendation ($8). 'It looks a nice race for her,' Begg said. 'A very competitive race, a pretty strong race for this time of year. 'I've seen other years gone by they haven't had full fields.' The 15-horse field on Saturday, following the withdrawal of Pisanello, is the biggest since 2020. Niance has primarily raced in fillies and mares restricted company to date but Begg said the five-year-old could 'take the next step'. 'We'll have to think about things after Saturday, what the right path to go with her,' Begg said. 'There's certainly races like the Monash and Bletchingly stakes … we'll study the programs, how they shape up and go from there. 'She won two stakes races last spring against the mares, so we certainly think highly of her and think she's certainly got the ability to take the next step.' Begg has Splash Back resuming on Saturday in a 1200m Benchmark 78. 'She's a nice mare, a pretty progressive horse,' Begg said. 'She's running at 1200m which will be interesting, it's short of her best distance but it's a nice start off point for her.'
