Cover image courtesy of Inglis
For Nichols and Black, there is plenty to like about a team that finished last season with several promising 2-year-olds, now 3-year-olds showing promise and up-side. Nichols spoke to The Thoroughbred Report about how the team is lining up ahead of an exciting spring.
Promising 3-year-olds such as Adakite (Pierro) and Fontalicious (Hanseatic) may aim up at stakes targets later in the spring, older mares Always Enuff (Capitalist) and Blondie’s Award (Shamus Award) bring proven form into the preparation.
Behind them is another group of well-bred 2-year-olds, including an Extreme Choice filly out of Nichols' former Group 1 winner I Am A Star (I Am Invincible) that was purchased for $575,000.
The stable is not looking to rush them all in the same direction. Some are ready to race, others are being given time, and several have targets that could become clearer as the spring unfolds.
Nichols takes us through their emerging team and the horses they believe can continue on an upward spiral.
3-year-olds
Adakite, 3-year-old filly (Pierro x El Estoora (NZ) {High Chaparral {Ire}})
“Adakite is a stakes placed filly, she trialled well today (Tuesday) and she will trial again next week at Sandown, and then go to the races.
“We think she's the sort of filly that could end up maybe in a Wakeful Stakes, all being well, that's the plan for her.”
Adakite as a yearling | Image courtesy of Inglis
Tiger Fox, 3-year-old colt (Tiger Of Malay x Foxy Free {Foxwedge})
“Tiger Fox is a very tough horse and now he's got up to a mile he is thriving, he has shown good improvement and may even get up to 2000 metres. He is very tough and very durable and probably will race again next week.”
Tiger Fox as a yearling | Image courtesy of Magic Millions
Covert Action, 3-year-old colt (Home Affairs x Secret Agenda {Not A Single Doubt})
“Covert Action has just come back into training and he will be back racing in probably late November. He is a very fast colt, but just pulled up with a little bit of mucus in his throat after Flemington.
"I look forward to getting him back on track, he has good promise."
Covert Action as a yearling | Image courtesy of Inglis
Fontalicious, 3-year-old filly (Hanseatic x Bold Arial {I Am Invincible})
“Fontalicious won a trial today in really nice fashion, she beat a good enough field and she will run at Sandown next Wednesday, just in a 3-year-old race.
"Hopefully she can progress to being a live chance in a sprinting fillies race during the spring at some stage.”
Fontalicious as a yearling | Image courtesy of Inglis
Exacting Standard, 3-year-old colt (I Am Invincible x Suspicieuse (Fr) {Elusive City {Fr}})
“Exacting Standard is a beautiful, big I Am Invincible colt, that is just about ready to resume. He will probably trial next week at Sandown, and then get to the races towards the end of the month.
“He is a lovely colt.”
Exacting Standard as a yearling | Image courtesy of Magic Millions
Relinquishing, 3-year-old filly (Wild Ruler x Forfeiture {Commands})
“Relinquishing ran in The Quezette last time. I think she trained off a little for that race, so she's having a break. She won't be back at the races until probably late November."
Relinquishing as a yearling | Image courtesy of Magic Millions
Delahra, 3-year-old filly (Doubtland x Bulahdelah Miss (NZ) {Cape Blanco {Ire}})
“Delahra is a really nice filly. She will trial on Thursday at Sandown, and then she'll go to a 1500 metre 3-year-old race with a $100,000 Inglis bonus on the 20th.
"Her longer term target will be the fillies classic mile on Cox Plate Day at Flemington.”
Delahra as a yearling | Image courtesy of Inglis
Woosh, 3-year-old filly (Wootton Bassett (GB) x Oohood {I Am Invincible})
“Woosh is a well-bred filly that ran a strong second last time out and she looks a short term maiden winner, she will race again in the next week or so.”
Woosh as a yearling | Image courtesy of Inglis
Older Horses
Always Enuff, 5-year-old mare (Capitalist x Enuff Effort {Reward For Effort})
“Always Enuff was very unlucky last time out at Bendigo, there are a couple of races for her on the 16th or the 26th of this month, she is going as well as she ever has and her hoof is definitely on the till.”
Blondie’s Award, 4-year-old mare (Shamus Award x Blondie {Reward For Effort})
“Blondie’s Award has accepted on Friday at Mornington with 61.5kg, if we don't run her, she'll go to Sandown next Wednesday. There's a Benchmark 66 race for her or a Benchmark 70 fillies and mares race, so she will run in one of those races.
“She is reasonably handy and in good form. She is a metropolitan quality horse, whether she is stakes class. I'm not quite sure but we may find out during the preparation.”
2-year-olds
Unnamed, 2-year-old filly (Extreme Choice x I Am A Star {I Am Invincible})
Purchased by Shane Nichols Racing for $575,000 from the Newgate Farm draft at the 2026 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale.
“She has really improved off her break, she has just returned to training and will be ready to trial later in the year, but I do like her.”
Extreme Choice x I Am A Star filly | Image courtesy of Magic Millions
Unnamed, 2-year-old colt (Stay Inside x Perfect Persuasion {Encosta De Lago})
Purchased by Shane Nichols Racing for $140,000 from the Glen Gallic Stud draft at the 2026 Inglis Classic Yearling Sale.
“I have a Stay Inside colt out of Perfect Persuasion, who is a full-sister to Alinghi. He is a really nice colt and showing quite a bit as well.
“He is probably more likely in the New Year, but he will be ready to trial in the coming months, he is quite sharp.”
Stay Inside x Perfect Persuasion colt | Image courtesy of Inglis
Unnamed, 2-year-old filly (Brazen Beau x Siyaadeh {Written Tycoon})
Purchased by Shane Nichols Racing for $120,000 from the Emirates Park draft at the 2026 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale.
“I have a Brazen Beau 2-year-old filly out of Siyaadeh who I think is pretty sharp, she is a lovely filly.”
Brazen x Siyaadeh filly | Image courtesy of Magic Millions
