Written by Paul Vettise
Not Feint Hearted (Not A Single Doubt) had trainer Gary Portelli in high spirits after he gapped his rivals in the first metropolitan race of the new season at Randwick.
The 4-year-old’s rivals were chasing a memory in the straight when he hit top gear to coast home in the Industry Celebration Day H.
“I’m the leading Sydney trainer for the new season! That was brilliant to watch and he had been racing pretty strong company and we were pretty keen on his chances,” Portelli said.
Not Feint Hearted had been out of the money at his previous start on his home track at Warwick Farm when making his first appearance for six weeks, but had valid excuses.
“The track was pretty ordinary and he got a couple of bad black eyes and he was a bit chubby. Since that run he has really come on and on Tuesday morning he burned the turf,” Portelli said.
“The track was pretty ordinary and he got a couple of bad black eyes and he was a bit chubby.” – Gary Portelli
He purchased Not Feint Hearted out of Misty Valley Thoroughbreds draft at the Magic Millions Perth Yearling Sale for $100,000.
He is one of five winners produced by Feint (Warring Nations {USA}), whose pedigree is light on black type performers and further back in the family is the dual Group 3 winner Perfect Answer (Barclay Joy {Ire}).
Not Feint Hearted as a yearling
Not Feint Hearted settled in behind a genuine pace and when rider Kathy O’Hara asked him for an effort on straightening, he surged clear to have 5.5l on Badoosh (Sebring) at the post.
“I thought he may have got there too soon, but he was good and he’s a tough horse. Gary has obviously done a really good job nursing this horse because he had a quarter crack for a while,” O’Hara said.
Another easy winner
Not Feint Hearted’s wide winning margin was surpassed in the next race by Niccirose (Nicconi) after he hit the front of the top of the straight and left his rivals gasping as he bolted up by 6l in the TAB Highway H.
It represented Niccirose’s first victory since suffering a serious injury when wining at Wyong last year and a lengthy break was to follow.
“He’s done a good job because he had 12 months off and has got a big screw in his knee, he’s got problems in both knees and the vets didn’t think he’d get back,” trainer Scott Singleton said.
“I was confident he would handle the ground and he hasn’t had much luck since he came back. He’s been caught deep and not got out a couple of times, he hasn’t run a bad race and it was good to see him round off like that.”
Niccirose was bought by Singleton and Pinhook Bloodstock for $35,000 at the Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale where he was offered by Widden Stud.
He is a son of Rubirose (Rubiton), whose three foals to race are all winners, and she hails from the family of the G1 JJ Atkins S. winner Capital Gain (Ad Valorem {USA}).
Niccirose as a yearling
