The Nick Ryan-trained Sircconi thrived on the seven-day turnaround coming down in distance to bolt home in the Listed $128,000 VRC Winter Championship Series Final (1600m) at Flemington on Saturday.

Sircconi enjoyed a four length romp home in the 2020 Winter Championship Series Final at Flemington. Photo: Ultimate Racing Photos.

Ridden to victory by the in-form Daniel Stackhouse, five-year-old Nicconi gelding Sircconi ran away over the closing stages of the feature race on Finals Day for a dominant four length victory.

The galloper was coming back from 2000m at Caulfield last Saturday to a mile on the quick back-up and rewarded a terrific training performance from Ryan.

Stackhouse had Sircconi settled right up on the pace in third with Holbein setting a hot speed.

Adding further merit to the win from the front of the race was the fact the other on-speed runners all trailed off finishing well back including the pacemaker Holbein who ran dead last.

After being brave in defeat crossing second off a slow pace last Saturday, Sircconi absolutely thrashed his rivals getting the speed to suit in the VRC Winter Championship Series Final.

The eventual winner moved up to level and then go past the frontrunner at the 300m and was off and gone by the furlong, going on to beat Chris Waller’s $41 roughie Polly Grey by four lengths.

The Greg Eurell-trained Victoria Star ($9) was a neck further back third, while Danny O’Brien’s beaten favourite Plein Ciel ($4.40) was no match for the runaway winner crossing fourth.

“We’ve been dying to back this horse up…we got him here today in terrific order,” winning trainer Ryan said post-race.

“Daniel Stackhouse, a terrific ride by him and the back-up really worked.

“That was a dominant win.

“The horse was hard, fit, a terrific performance.

“I thought he was a top three hope…and for him to come out and do that it’s just great to see.

“There’s some lovely owners in this horse. Just to get the win for all them guys today is great.

“He’s just absolutely flying and there’s another mile handicap here in a couple of weeks but I’ll let him tell me.

“Just let the dust settle and see what happens.”

About The Author

Lucy Henderson

Lucy is an experienced horse racing journalist that has been a crucial member of the horseracing.com.au team for the better part of a decade. She has taken great delight in covering champion mares Black Caviar and Winx throughout their careers and always has a soft spot for a winning filly.