Nicky: Attsa really Nice foal and it’s all down to Sir Lincoln

Watching her attractive new foal tearing around the paddock, Cambridge trainer Nicky Chilcott admits she once would never have considered Sir Lincoln as a potential stallion.

But seeing this spritely two-week-old by the Alabar-based sire dart this way then that, leaving mum Attsa Nice well behind, she’s glad she did, the babies’ speed the only thing more impressive tNicky Chilcott … sold on Sir Lincolnhan her excellent conformation.

This speed machine on four impossibly long legs only came to be because Chilcott’s longest and most loyal owner Cliff Thomas insisted she check out a Sir Lincoln colt at the 2016 Karaka yearling sale.

Chilcott reluctantly sought out lot 54 and was immediately taken by his presence.

“You could see he was going to take time - he was quite a big horse with open knees and big joints - but I liked him.”

The colt’s second dam had left New Zealand Cup winner Homin Hosed but few buyers were willing to take the gamble on Sir Lincoln who’d had no runners to the track yet and the pair had to pay just $5500 to get him.

Deer Hunter, as he was named, didn’t have much of a clue at first but Chilcott says he had an incredibly willing attitude.

“He was big, goofy galah, but from day one he always wanted to work with you. He couldn’t pace at first, he hopped and skipped, but he tried really hard. He never said I’m over it and didn’t wan’t to do it.”

Play time at Brogden Lodge where Attsa Nice’s Sir Lincoln filly was foaledWhen Deer Hunter learned what to do he showed he also had some raw ability and surprised Chilcott by getting to the races as an early three-year-old in September, 2017.

His first run at Cambridge was a disaster, however, when one of his hopple loops broke in the run-up behind the mobile and he galloped out and was pulled out of the race.

Next start at Auckland he showed his real worth when he sat parked for the last lap before running away and beating stablemate Ally Mae in a jog.

Even at just two weeks the foal is beautifully conformedChilcott says she should have turned him out then but she gave him one more start when he bumbled out of the gate, tailed off early, then saw more of the outside fence over the last lap before weakening out.

That was more than a year ago during which time Chilcott says he’s never been out of trouble.

“I gave him a good, long break and he filled out into a magnificent looking horse. But one day we found him in the paddock unable to put his leg on the ground.”

X-rays and scans failed to find the problem and Deer Hunter had to be turned out again.

“Six weeks after he’d been in the paddock a massive stone bruise blew out and I’m sure that must have been the problem all along.”

Deer Hunter came back in after his spell in ”awesome” condition, never had a day’s lameness, until one day when Chilcott again found him in the paddock with his “hind leg hanging - we thought he’d broken his leg this time.”

After the same rigmarole of scans and X-rays, vets found blood in his stifle joint fluid and figured he must have skidded into a corner of his paddock and damaged it.

How Deer Hunter looked as a yearlingThe horse came right after his stifle was injected and now he is banned from sharing a paddock with another horse.

“He’s the class clown in the paddock, he’s just got to play with his mates, so now he’s by himself, which he’s not happy about when he sees the others playing.”

Deer Hunter is now hoppling with stable star Juice Brogden, is a pleasure to have around, and is only a month from the trials.

And when he gets back to the races, Chilcott says he’ll be worth backing.

“He’ll win a few races if only because of his tenacity. I definitely wouldn’t have taken this mare to Sir Lincoln had it not been for him.”