‘Sorry, he gets emotional talking about this horse’: Ray Thomas goes one-on-one with Territory Express’s trainer Paul Niceforo
Trainer Paul Niceforo is one of racing’s quintessential battlers. This week, the trainer of Five Diamonds hope Territory Express granted a rare, expansive interview to Ray Thomas on his 40-year journey to find the horse that would change his life.
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There was something about the unraced chestnut two-year-old careering around the paddock that caught Paul Niceforo’s attention.
The Warwick Farm trainer watched intently as the young horse sprinted straight towards a dam only to swerve at the last moment – without breaking stride.
Niceforo knew nothing about the horse or its breeding but decided at that very moment he wanted to train him.
When asked what it was about the horse he liked, Niceforo replied: “Just the way he moved.’’
I pressed for more: “How he ducked around the dam and kept running,’’ the trainer said.
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After that comment, Niceforo passed the phone over to his partner, Maryanne Cram.
“Sorry, he gets emotional talking about this horse,’’ she said.
“This horse” is Territory Express, one of the main chances in the Listed $2 million Five Diamonds (1800m) at Rosehill Gardens on Saturday.
Cram said her partner of nine years has been feeling “a little stressed” ahead of the most significant race of his training career.
“This is so important to Paul,’’ Cram said
“Big races like this are important for every trainer but the stress is 10 times worse for a small trainer.’’
Racing produces its share of fairytale stories – the Melbourne Cup this week was a classic example with $91 bolter Knight’s Choice winning the race, ridden by jockey and singer Robbie Dolan, and with Sheila Laxon training her second Cup winner after Ethereal in 2001 – and Niceforo’s story with Territory Express could be another. In fact, it already is!
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THE START
Niceforo is one of racing’s quintessential battlers and just a good bloke. He’s from Katherine in the Northern Territory, trained out of Darwin, moved to Kembla and is now at Warwick Farm.
It’s been a long, hard slog for the 64-year-old who had his first starter at Tennant Creek, about five hours north of Alice Springs, more than 40 years ago. His name was Aloboy and he was beaten in a photo.
He has trained winners on outback tracks like Kununurra and Halls Creek in Western Australia, Nanango and Kumbia in Queensland.
Then his big break came when the legendary Bart Cummings sent a horse to Darwin for the Cup Carnival.
Niceforo helped one of Cummings’ staff with the horse during their stay and soon afterwards, the “Cups King” reached out to the Territorian with an offer to work at his famous Leilani Lodge stables at Randwick.
It was some reality check for Niceforo moving from Darwin to Sydney but Cram said the two men got along well because they were of similar character.
“The reason Paul thinks Bart liked him is because Paul has never been a ‘yes man’,’’ Cram said.
“He always tells it straight, there is no mucking around. Bart was like that.
“Paul worked with Bart for 12 months and that was the season Bart won his only Sydney trainers’ premiership (1989-90).’’
When asked what it was like working with the training legend, Niceforo said: “It was a very good learning experience.’’
Niceforo was looking after 72 horses when he was with Bart – and there were some champions in the stable like Shaftesbury Avenue, Tristanagh and Kingston Rule.
Although Niceforo enjoyed working with Cummings, he promised himself he never wanted to be the trainer of a stable with similar numbers.
“Paul is very hands on and he said you can miss some things if you are not onto it straight away,’’ Cram explained.
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THE GOOD HORSE
Niceforo eventually decided to go back to training on his own, toiling away quietly for decades with the odd winner.
Then came the day when he was watching that unraced two-year-old, later named Territory Express, galloping around the paddock.
Territory Express is by Territories and is the only foal out of the Sebring mare, Miss Chattering. The chestnut gelding has had 18 starts for four wins and six placings, amassing more than $1.1 million prizemoney.
Now a five-year-old, Territory Express has developed into that “good horse” Niceforo had been hoping for his whole life.
Territory Express has improved steadily every preparation and earlier this year provided Niceforo with his biggest win as a trainer when he won the $1 million Provincial-Midway Championships Final at Royal Randwick on Queen Elizabeth Stakes Day.
“We didn’t know the horse was by Territories when we saw him that day in the paddock,’’ said Cram, who is also a part-owner of the talented galloper.
“So, that is why Paul named him Territory Express. I remember when Paul put him into training for the first time, he said this was going to be a really, really good horse.
“Paul was not wrong. He is a very good judge of horseflesh.”
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TERRITORY EXPRESS
Territory Express wins the Provincial-Midway Championships Final!@aus_turf_club@ZacLloydxpic.twitter.com/AQi51lGOwr
— SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) April 13, 2024
So, what is the chestnut gelding with the nickname of “Tory” like around the stable?
“He’s cheeky,’’ the trainer said.
Cram added Territory Express lets everyone know who is really in charge at the stables.
“He took a nip out of me this morning,’’ she said. “It is just him being playful but it hurts.
“There are some days when he will chase me out of the box if he doesn’t want me in there.’’
But Cram knows how to get on Territory Express’ good side – Greek Yoghurt.
“He loves his yoghurt and sometimes I think that is the only time he loves me,’’ she laughed.
“But he is a funny horse, he has a real personality. If he is in the mood, he will sometimes stick his tongue out because he wants you to pat it.
“As soon as we get visitors, if he sticks his tongue out I say you are blessed as he doesn’t do it for everyone.’’
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THE FUTURE
Nice form coming out of a race from Doomben in May @stevejoseph69pic.twitter.com/ovbrMDATou
— Rob Wilson (@RobWilson2512) November 5, 2024
Niceforo is based at Warwick Farm these days where he has just four boxes. The trainer has three in work and a 28-year-old miniature horse called Buddy that acts like he owns the place.
“We have four boxes and ‘Buddy’ is in one of them,’’ Cram said. “He keeps the other horses calm if we are gone for the day.’’
It’s a far cry from the mega-sized stables of some of the nation’s leading trainers who have hundreds of horses in work.
For a trainer, having a talented racehorse like a Territory Express is often the best advertisement for his or her business but it hasn’t helped Niceforo increase his clientele base.
“The phone has never rung!’’ Niceforo said.
When asked if he was happy to have only three racehorses and Buddy in his four-box Warwick Farm stables, Niceforo’s reply was emphatic: “Yes, very,’’ he said.
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THE COUPLE
“Look out Cox Plate - here we come!†👀
— SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) April 13, 2024
The win of Territory Express in the Provincial-Midway Championships Final was an emotional one for Paul Niceforo, who has a HUGE opinion of the horse!@aus_turf_clubpic.twitter.com/kTbOax5w3G
For the first time during this interview, Niceforo was expansive – well, almost. He had something to say about the person who means everything to him
“She is fantastic, I’m very lucky to have her,’’ Niceforo said.
“And I’m not talking about ‘Tory’ (Territory Express), I’m talking about Maryanne.’’
It’s been well-publicised that Niceforo has had his health issues.
The story goes he went into hospital for a shoulder operation last year and came out eight weeks later after suffering two heart attacks and a stroke.
When asked how his health is today, he replied: “I’m good.’’
Cram elaborated, explaining her partner is exercising more and his health is improving.
“Paul can get himself worked up when it comes to ‘Tory’,’’ she said. “He has reminded me every day that this will be a stressful week.
“But he is feeling better all the time and it helps having Territory Express in the stable. Paul has done a great job with this horse.’’
Cram said the success they are sharing with Territory Express is indescribable.
“This ride with Territory Express has been the most unbelievable experience,’’ she said.
“When you get a horse to train, you feed it, look after it and hope it gets to the races.
“Then to see it on the racetrack for the first time is great but there are no words to describe how we feel with a horse like this – it is crazy.’’
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FIVE DIAMONDS
Territory Express has drawn well in barrier seven for the Five Diamonds and is challenging for favouritism at $5 in latest TAB Fixed Odds betting.
He goes into the $2 million Rosehill races after an outstanding second to Iknowastar in the Five Diamonds Prelude (1500m) at Randwick two weeks ago when he finished fast to go under in a photo despite missing the start by two lengths.
Niceforo has tried everything he knows to get Territory Express to begin better in his races but it seems the gelding is his own worst enemy with his laid-back attitude.
“The horse is not anxious in the barriers, he’s not panicking, he just stands there and doesn’t move one iota – he is just so relaxed,’’ Cram said.
“Paul has tried everything but nothing seems to work, he always seems to miss the start.
“We just hope there is a bit of speed in Saturday’s race because Paul has never had any doubt this horse would get over ground.
“Even last autumn when he won the big race at Randwick, he always felt the horse was one preparation away. He was right, the horse has returned stronger this spring.’’
When asked what level of confidence they have for Territory Express for Saturday’s race, Cram said: “This is the race he has been set for.”
“On his last run, he is going to be hard to beat. Honestly, we expect him to win.’’
Niceforo had the final word and said simply: “Exactly!”
Originally published as ‘Sorry, he gets emotional talking about this horse’: Ray Thomas goes one-on-one with Territory Express’s trainer Paul Niceforo
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