America’s victory over Japan in the famous Battle Of Midway in 1942, was no more comprehensive than Greg Hickman’s triumph with Our Bellagio Miss in the equine battle of the same name at Rosehill Gardens on Saturday.
The script played out perfectly when the winner of the newly created race was trained by a man who has been an unrelenting advocate of the concept. There’s little doubt Greg’s input played a major part in the decision by Racing NSW to introduce Midway races to Sydney’s Saturday programmes. “Richard Freedman supported me in pushing for a regular race on Saturday programmes which would give the smaller metropolitan and provincial stables an opportunity to race for worthwhile prize money without running into multiple runners from the big outfits,” said Greg.
Our Bellagio Miss started favourite at $4.20 in the first Midway on the strength of some good recent form. She finished fourth to Malkovich, Hulk and Lancaster Bomber beaten only 2 lengths at Randwick on June 12th. The merit of that run was confirmed when Malkovich was whisked to Caulfield two weeks later to score an emphatic win in an open 3YO event after racing wide throughout.
Tommy Berry hurried Our Bellagio Miss out of the gates on Saturday, but quickly steadied when he could see there was going to be genuine speed in the race. Although a little wide on the turn the mare had cover behind Colonel and came out to issue her challenge at the 200m. Our Bellagio Miss let down impressively on the H9 surface and established a winning break in a few strides. Just Field and Wander were both held up on straightening, but finished strongly to fill the placings.
Our Bellagio Miss (Tommy Berry) came from mid-field to win the inaugural Midway - courtesy Bradley Photographers.
Greg Hickman was thrilled to win the inaugural Midway for an ownership syndicate which comprises Racing NSW Chairman Russell Balding, his wife Margaret, son Rod, daughter-in-law Jessica, and Ross McInnes. Greg’s daughter Jacqueline and wife Ericka are also involved in the ownership. Saturday’s win took the mare’s record to five wins and five placings from just nineteen starts for over $228,000 in prize money.
One key issue constantly being monitored by horse trainers is the “tying up” syndrome, caused by a sudden overload of lactic acid. This is a metabolism irregularity which enables muscles to contract but doesn’t allow them to release again. In mild cases it can be hard to detect, but prevents a horse from stretching out nevertheless. In severe cases it can cause pain and stress and often prevents the horse from walking normally.
Following a few disappointing performances from Our Bellagio Miss early in her career, Greg went looking for an underlying reason. “A blood test revealed an abnormally high muscle enzyme reading, even though she wasn’t showing stiffness and soreness,” he said. “I’d seen horses a lot worse, but I felt she was underperforming.
“We immediately put her on a low grain diet with plenty of roughage and changed her training routine. Nowadays she has a long walk at home before going over to Warwick Farm where she swims one lap of the pool - all designed to disperse any surplus lactic acid in her system. She’s then saddled up at the horse stalls and taken out for her designated work. We’ve got to stay on top of it. Fortunately, she has a beautiful temperament and is happy to go with the flow.”
Our Bellagio Miss wins her first city race - a BM78 at Randwick with Rachel King on board 19/12/2020 - courtesy Bradley Photographers.
Greg Hickman also part owned and trained Miss Canny, dam of Our Bellagio Miss. The Canny Lad filly was injured in a barrier mishap at Newcastle as she lined up for her third race start. “I was disappointed when we had to retire Miss Canny so early, but the vets were certain she wouldn’t cope with training,” said Greg. “At her second start she ran a good fourth at Warwick Farm, and was improving rapidly.”
After conferring with several part owners including Russell Balding, Greg arranged for the filly to go to stud. He was mindful of the fact that daughters of Canny Lad were highly prized broodmares having produced around 50 stakes winners at the time. One of his daughters Shantha’s Choice was the dam of iconic racehorse and stallion Redoute’s Choice, whose last yearling was sold just a few weeks ago. Greg was also aware Miss Canny was out of a half-sister to the talented mare Spanish Mix, winner of two Gr 1’s.
The ownership syndicate booked Miss Canny into the consistent winner getter Casino Prince, widely regarded as the best value sire standing in the Hunter Valley at that time. Our Bellagio Miss becomes one of four winners for Miss Canny from only five to race. Greg won six races with Centro Superior ( Danzero) including two at Warwick Farm, while Pandeia (Ad Valorem) won three for the stable on provincial tracks. Greg currently has Miss Canny’s two year old All Machievallian in work, and is pleased with his progress. The All Too Hard gelding was unplaced in one run before going for a spell earlier this year, but has returned in great shape and had a quiet trial at Canterbury last week.
Greg Hickman campaigned relentlessly for the introduction of The Midway concept - courtesy Bradley Photographers.
All Machiavellian and Our Bellagio Miss are two of Greg Hickman’s twenty horse team, a number he’s maintained for many years. His strike rate with a limited number of runners has been consistently high, and he’s more than made his presence felt at the elite level. Sportsman was the horse to give the trainer his first taste of stakes success. The $8000 yearling purchase won $782,000 winning three Gr 2’s, a Gr 3 and a Listed race along the way.
Another $8000 yearling gave Greg his initial Gr 1 success. Royal Purler, a filly by Hector Protector raced only sixteen times but was able to win the prestigious Flight Stakes with Patrick Payne in the saddle. Greg’s success with bargain priced yearlings was already earning him a healthy reputation. He was at it again a couple of years later. Sir Dex cost him $12,000 and went on to win $831,000 per medium of six wins including the Gr 3 Carbine Club Stakes, a Prime Minister’s Cup and a Gr 2 Warwick Stakes.
Mirjulisa Lass put the Warwick Farm trainer in the spotlight again when she won the 2011 Gr 1 Vinery Stud Stakes with Corey Brown on board. She started at $51.00, but to this day Corey will attest to the fact that Greg thought she was way over the odds.
Private Secretary was a great money spinner for Greg’s twenty horse stable. She was a $40,000 purchase from a Gerry Harvey draft but went on to collect $1,043,060, a goodly portion of it coming from a win in a fillies and mares Magic Millions feature.
And then came the horse of his dreams, and the horse to showcase the talent that had been bubbling away under the surface from the day he won his first race at Moree in 1987.
Greg stepped outside his comfort zone when he paid $160,000 for the Lonhro - November Flight colt at the 2015 Magic Millions sale - by far the most expensive yearling he’d ever signed for. “I got carried away by his great presence,” he said. “I just kept bidding. It was a case of buy now and worry later.”
Once again the Hickman eye proved unerringly accurate. Pierata went on to a twenty six start career, yielding nine wins and nine placings for $5.8 million. He won only one Gr 1 but was second in three others, two of them by agonisingly narrow margins. Add to that a $1 million Redzel Stakes and a Magic Millions 3YO Guineas, and you can see why the Aquis breeding operation bent over backwards to secure Pierata for stud duties. “Off the top of my head I think he served 167 mares last season achieving 131 positive tests,” said Greg over the weekend. “A pleasing result for all concerned. I’ll certainly be casting an eye over his first batch of yearlings.”
Few trainers are better qualified to assess the merits of yearlings by Pierata or any other stallion for that matter. The score is on the board!
Greg is always delighted to team up with Tommy Berry - courtesy Bradley Photographers.
(Banner image - Our Bellagio Miss has the distinction of winning the first Midway Hcp - courtesy Bradley Photographers.)