Cecconi sired the first winner from his second crop when Precious Sophia scored a convincing victory in the 94.4 The Sound 2YO (800m) at Wanganui on Thursday.

Precious Sophia (2f Cecconi – Gypsy Jewels by Jade Robbery) is trained by Graeme Rogerson and is unlucky not to be two-from-two after finishing a short-head second to Dancer’s Tale at the same venue a month ago.  She is a half-sister to LR Blue Diamond Preview winner The Travelling Man and cost $35,000 at the 2012 NZB Karaka yearling sale.

Westbury Stud based Cecconi has only had one winner from four starters in his first crop – Lumiere Blue broke through at Te Rapa in February.

Cecconi sired 31 foals from his first crop conceived in 2009.  He covered a much bigger book in 2010 but, due to falling fertility, the number of foals stayed at 31.

Precious Sophia’s dam Gypsy Jewels was covered only hours before the Wanganui win by Westbury Stud’s G1 winning Australian sprinter Swiss Ace.   Westbury will also be offering a Swiss Ace – Gypsy Jewels colt at the 2013 NZB Karaka yearling sale.

Cecconi (Encosta de Lago) was trained by David Hayes and was a Listed winner of the 2007 Blue Diamond Preview.  He followed up with a fourth in the G2 VRC Sires’ Produce Stakes and was then runner-up in the G2 STC Pago Pago Stakes.

He stands for $4,500 fee at Westbury Stud with no fee payable until June 2013.