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One to Watch - Kyneton

Mark Smith - Sunday Oct 4

From the family of multiple Group 1 winners Nicconi and Niconero, the three-year-old So You Think colt Defence Force made a winning career debut over 1212m at Kyneton on Sunday.

Defence Force makes a winning debut (Natasha Morello/Racing Photos)

Ridden by Michael Dee for trainers Tom Dabernig and Ben Hayes, Defence Force came three-wide on the turn to sweep past the leader Top Critic then held the challenge of the favourite My Best Effort (Brazen Beau) by a neck with a half-neck back to Vitruvius (Star Witness) in third.

Carrying the colours of the royal blue and pink diagonal stripes, of the Devitt and Gordon families, Defence Force is the second foal and second winner for the twice winning More Than Ready (USA) mare Nicamorae whose first foal, the Warwick Farm winner Rock Amore (Fastnet Rock), finished second at Canterbury on September 22 and is nominated for a benchmark 72 over 1600m at Warwick Farm on Wednesday.

A winner at Flemington, Nicamorae is a half-sister to 5-time Group 1 winner Niconero (Danzero) and Group 1 VRC Lightning Stakes and Group 1 AJC Galaxy winner Nicconi now a successful stallion at Widden Stud.

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Nica

morae was consigned by Woodside Park Stud to the 2019 Great Southern Sale where she was purchased by Twin Hills Stud.

She was carrying a So You Think filly and was bred back to Exceed And Excel last spring but missed.  

So You Think (Mark Smith)

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Race Result - Bet365 Top Tote Plus Mdn 1212m

Kyneton Track: Soft(6) Time: 1:14.08
1
Defence Force
- 3c So You Think (NZ) x Nicamorae (AUS) (More Than Ready (USA))
Tnr: T Dabernig & B Hayes Rdr: M J Dee 58
2
0.3
My Best Effort
- 3f Brazen Beau (AUS) x Vivid Girl (AUS) (Fastnet Rock (AUS))
Tnr: C J Waller Rdr: M J Walker 56
3
0.5
Vitruvius
- 3g Star Witness (AUS) x Luchardo (AUS) (Testa Rossa (AUS))
Tnr: P A Preusker Rdr: B Prebble 58
4
1.5
Top Critic
- 3f Testa Rossa (AUS) x Critical Angel (NZ) (O'Reilly (NZ))
Tnr: Henry Dwyer Rdr: Michael Poy 56
5
1.7
Lonhgoal
- 3f Lonhro (AUS) x Becerra (AUS) (Al Maher (AUS))
Tnr: M Ellerton & S Zahra Rdr: D Yendall 56
6
4.2
Crown Of Melbourne
- 3c Snitzel (AUS) x Star Of Sydney (AUS) (Starcraft (NZ))
Tnr: T Dabernig & B Hayes Rdr: D W Stackhouse 58
7
4.3
Zuiichi
- 3g Real Impact (JPN) x Rock Success (AUS) (Rock Of Gibraltar (IRE))
Tnr: G A Osborne Rdr: Ben Allen 58
8
7.3
Lisieux
- 3f Trust In A Gust (AUS) x Princess Of Exile (AUS) (Gonski (AUS))
Tnr: P G Carey Rdr: Jack Martin 56
9
13.3
Jianzhang
- 3g Epaulette (AUS) x Chinese Pretty (AUS) (Lion Heart (USA))
Tnr: Ben Brisbourne Rdr: Lewis German 58
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