Oliveanotherday takes another step towards the top

Image: Oliveanotherday, Credit: Racing Photos

Warrnambool-trained four-year-old Oliveanotherday (Nicconi) confirmed himself a potential sprinting star of the spring when claiming his fifth straight victory in The Heath (Gr 3, 1100m) at Caulfield on Saturday. 

Having risen to black type grade in his home town’s Wangoom Stakes (Listed, 1200m) to round off his last campaign, the Tom Dabernig-trained Oliveanotherday progressed to Group company for his resumption and took it in his impressive stride.

Ridden by Harry Coffey and backed into $2.30 favouritism, the gelding tracked the leader – the $3.70 second elect Bridal Waltz (Snitzel) – throughout from gate one of eight.

Bridal Waltz attempted to steal a winning break by the 200 metres, but once a gap appeared for Oliveanotherday behind her, the favourite jumped into the lead with disarming ease in a couple of bounds, powering away to score by 1.5 lengths.

Bridal Waltz finished 1.3 lengths ahead of the third-placed War Machine (Harry Angel) at $6 in a market-order trifecta.

Dabernig, enjoying a strong run of success of late with other stakes-winning sprinters in Cavalry Girl (Bivouac) and Shadhavar (Pride Of Dubai), said Oliveanotherday – who’s won six from eight overall – appeared an exceptional speedster who could be in for a glorious spring, with Group 1 targets on his horizon.

“You don’t get your hands on these horses very often,” said Dabernig, who has gradually built up his stable since ending his days as a co-trainer at Lindsay Park in 2021, with 85 named horses now on his books.

“We were a bit concerned about barrier one and I was mindful, talking to Harry Coffey during the week, of not wanting to chase the speed and hold a position and give him too hard a run.

“Turning for home when he was held up, we were all a bit tense. He’s a horse that can quicken and get himself out of trouble in two or three strides and when he hit the front, I saw that Harry didn’t have to use the whip all that much and was hands-and-heels, and he won nicely.

“It’s a great way to kick the preparation off and hopefully he can continue into the spring and take those next steps.”

Dabernig said he hoped Oliveanotherday could progress to the top tier this spring, with the Manikato Stakes (Gr 1, 1200m) on September 27 at Caulfield a possible destination.

Bookmakers wound him in to clear favouritism for that $2 million Saturday night feature at $3.50, ahead of $6 equal second favourites Giga Kick (Scissor Kick) and Jigsaw (Manhattan Rain).

“He does everything so easy. When he was going through the grades he was winning his races by good margins and in good times,” the trainer said.

“I understand as we get deeper into the spring, it gets tougher, but now he’s a lovely sound horse and the sky’s the limit.

“The ultimate goal is to try and get him to a Group 1 in best possible shape and we might look at the Bobbie Lewis [on September 12] to give him a look at the straight at Flemington, which might open up an option for Cup week.

“The goal at the moment would probably be the Manikato. He’s a very good Caulfield horse.”

Coffey, who’s partnered the son of Nicconi (Bianconi) in his past three starts, was hugely impressed with his victory in a race in which the past three winners include subsequent Group 1 victors Asfoora (Flying Artie) and Tropicus (Too Darn Hot).

“Credit to Tom,” Coffey said. “He wanted me to ride him in a relaxed manner and not panic. He said, ‘If the gaps come, he’ll get you out of trouble’ and he was certainly right because the horse was superb today.

“We found ourselves in a bit of trouble but I was following the right horse. When you’re riding a good horse and you’ve drawn barrier one, they know where you are, so I had to bide my time.
One of his biggest assets is that at the 600, he grabs the bridle and wants to break them up of his own accord. He tried to do that but you can’t when you’re following them, so he got awkwardly placed on heels a couple of times.

“It was an unusual feeling swinging off a horse’s head trying to stop them at that part of the race, but when the gap came he quickened into it well.

“I’m really pleased with him. Geez he’s a lovely horse. He used to be a little bit fiery but this time around he’s matured. You’ve got to do that when you go to better races and so far he’s aiming up like he’ll be able to.”

A homebred for co-owner Andrew Harrison, Oliveanotherday is the first foal of Olive (All Too Hard), a city-placed half-sister to Group 3 winner Stirling Grove (Mossman) out of the Listed-winning mare Kalamata (Desert Prince).

Olive now has a two-year-old filly by Foxwedge (Fastnet Rock) and was covered by Nicconi again last spring.

Nicconi – famed as the sire of super sprinter Nature Strip among his two elite victors – has 31 stakes winners from 967 runners worldwide at 3.21 per cent.

The 21-year-old covered 51 mares at Widden Victoria last spring and stands there again this year for an unchanged $13,200 (inc. GST).