Ken Casellas | Photo: PACEPIX
Norm and Julie Champion enjoyed considerable success with Nicky Eileen between 2010 and 2014, and now they are delighted with the performances of that mare’s first foal Nickys Son.
They bred Nickys Son (by American sire Imperial Count) after retiring Nicky Eileeen after she had had 113 starts for 13 wins, 32 placings and $125,549.
And the nine-year-old Nickys Son boosted his earnings to $147,091 with his all-the-way win in the $21,000 Harleys Plumbing Trot over 2130m at Gloucester Park on Friday night. This improved his record to 70 starts for 15 wins and 25 placings.
Chris Lewis, who drove Nicky Eileen to eleven of her wins, got Nickys Son, the $4.50 third favourite, away speedily from barrier three, and the veteran trotter ambled through the lead time in 39.3sec. and the opening quarter in 31.2sec. before increasing the tempo with quarters of 30sec., 29.5sec. and 29.6sec. to go on and win by a neck from Chumani ($3.70), and with the $2.15 favourite Patched in fourth place.
“We copped a bit of pressure early, and he did a good job,” said Lewis.
Chumani, a last-start winner, worked hard in the breeze and was gallant in defeat, while Patched, who raced in the one-out, two-back position, battled on gamely.