Sparks Burn notched Niello’s first win from his third crop at Bendigo on Friday.  The Shane Fleidner trained gelding sat three-wide without cover in the Max Ellis Signs 2YO Maiden (1000m) but was always travelling for Dan Nikolic on debut.

Sparks Burn (2g Niello – Dual Spark by Spartacus) took over at the top of the straight and had the firepower to fend off General Offer (General Nediym) and The Juddernaut (Niello).

Niello retired to Chatswood Stud after a career that garnered Group 1 victories in the 2003 AJC Spring Champion Stakes and the 2004 STC Canterbury – Rosehill Guineas double.

There are no problems with numbers among his current crop of two year-olds.  He had 120 live foals on the ground in 2008 following E.I. when hundreds of Victorian mares were prevented from travelling interstate.

Fellow Niello youngster The Juddernaut was also facing the starter for the first time and only went down a half-length.  He initially came to attention last November when clocking the fastest breeze-up at the Gold Coast Magic Millions HIT Sale.  He was subsequently sold for $77,500 to owner Sean Brady.

Sparks Burn is a homebred for Wingrove Park owner Joe Vella and is a younger half-brother to his Adelaide stakes performers Sparks Fly (Flying Spur) and El Spark (Elvstroem).  Their dam Dual Spark was a flyer winning four sprints for Vella and his wife Daira.  

Vella has a tremendous strike-rate in recent years with stakes winners Dedicated Miss (Mukaddamah) and Classiconi (Bianconi).  Fair Trade (Danewin) was another Wingrove Park stakes winner prior to being sold to Hong Kong interests twelve months ago.

Niello is a brother to Darley high-flyer Lonhro and he sired another first-time winner at Bendigo on Friday when Reflect scored by three lengths in the Mantra Hotels Resorts Maiden over 1600m.

Niello averaged 125 mares in his first five seasons at Chatswood Stud.  He stood for an $8,800 fee last year.