Nicconi has opened up favourite for the Australian first-season winners’ title in 2013-14.

The Widden Stud sire has been installed at $3.50 by Sportingbet.  “Nicconi’s foals were very popular at the sales,” spokesman Andrew Brown said.  “And early reports from trainers suggest they are all progressing well.”

Sportingbet has been spot on with its assessments since starting the book on first-season sires in 2009-10.  Widden champion Stratum was a $2.40 favourite that season and won with 13 individual winners.

Darley sire Nadeem was the opening $2.50 favourite in 2010-11 and he shared the spoils with Red Dazzler, All Bar One and Ad Valorem.  All four freshman sired 8 individual winners in Australia.

Patinack Farm sire Husson caused a $17 upset in 2011-12 with 11 winners.  Sportingbet priced Darley shuttler Bernardini as the opening $4.40 favourite at the start of the season but he only sired 4 winners.

Widden residents Sebring ($1.65) and Northern Meteor ($2.50) were the pick of the newcomers in 2012-13 and they finished on top although not in that order.  Northern Meteor sired 18 winners to top the table ahead of Sebring (16).

Northern Meteor died two days before claiming the title and his tally broke the previous first-season record of 16 winners held by More Than Ready (2004-05) and Lion Hunter (2001-02).

2013-14 Australian first-season winners’ market

$3.5  Nicconi
$4      I Am Invincible
$7     Onemorenomore, Duporth, All American, Red Element
$9     Denman
$11   Manhattan Rain, Von Costa De Hero
$13   Big Brown
$21   Medaglio D’oro, Wanted, Time Thief