Six-year-old Niello mare Nautical broke through for her
first stakes win in Friday's Group III Bow Mistress Trophy (1200m) at Hobart.
The Nikki Burke-trained mare was third in the Group II Let's
Elope Stakes at Flemington last season and was second in the Listed Rosemont
Stud Stakes at Geelong on October 21 last year.
Ridden by Brad Rawiller Nautical finished best to nose out
defending champion I Love It (Artie Schiller) with the John Blacker-trained
Erin's Element (Shaft) back in third.
"She hasn't eaten a thing since she got here," Burke
said.
"I haven't slept or eaten with all the worry about her.
I've been so stressed.
"I thought I had done the wrong thing (making the trip
to Tasmania).
"I had set her for this. I put her out and gave her a
few weeks off and got her ready for this.
"She trialled 10 days ago and went super so I'm rapt.
She needs all the stars to align for her and today it did."
A bargain basement $10,000 purchase by her trainer at the
2011 Inglis Autumn Yearling sale, Nautical advances her record to 4 wins, 7 seconds
and 5 thirds from 29 starts for earnings of $354,935.
She is the second foal of the unraced Anabaa mare Magda a
half-sister to Group 1 Manawatu Sires' Produce Stakes and Karaka Million winner
The Heckler (Lucky Owners).
Magda died in 2013.
Nautical becomes the third stakes-winner for Lonhro's
brother Niello (pictured) who died in 2011 after six seasons at stud.
