Hayes brothers claim back-to-back Victoria Handicap wins with Nicolini Vito at Caulfield

The Hayes brothers sealed a feature double at Caulfield when they won the Victoria Handicap for the second straight year.

Nicolini Vito (centre) surges through the field to win the Victoria Handicap at Caulfield. Picture: Vince Caligiuri/Getty Images

Nicolini Vito sealed a feature double for Lindsay Park at Caulfield with victory in the Group 3 Victoria Handicap (1400m).

The evergreen gelding burst between Miss Aria and Roll On High to get the result for trainers Ben, JD and Will Hayes.

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The brothers won the corresponding race last year with Here To Shock.

Will Hayes lauded jockey Luke Currie’s patient ride on Saturday to slice through the field.

“It was a terrific ride by Luke, we just thought with the rise up to 1400m we wanted to keep him in a rhythm, keep him comfortable and he just took all the runs,” Hayes said.

“When it split open he had the horse underneath him and really savaged the line.

“He’s like a fine wine (Nicolini Vito), getting better as he gets older.

“The key to him I feel this preparation is he’s relaxing better early in his races which is really allowing him to hit the line strongly.”

Nicolini Vito returned $10.

Nicolini Vito shoots through the gap to win the Victoria Handicap!@lindsayparkracepic.twitter.com/hl0v5H0wJ8

— 7HorseRacing 🐎 (@7horseracing) April 5, 2025

• Hayes points way to spring with unbeaten filly

Unplaced favourite Suparazi travelled outside the winner in the run but could not quicken as sharply.

Currie only got into clear air the last 100m and Nicolini Vito went on with the job.

“I said to the (Hayes) boys beforehand I’d be happy to be three-wide, cover and be coming out to the middle but back on the fence wasn’t going to plan,” Currie said.

“Lucky enough to pick our way through and get there in time.

“He travelled up, he wasn’t bolting behind them, wasn’t crashing and banging into them, nice and easy if the runs came for him he was going to quicken and if they didn’t, well then I’d get the sack.”

Lindsay Park opened the card with victory in the Listed Redoute’s Choice Stakes.

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EASTER HUNT

Torranzino led only where it mattered most to claim the Group 3 Easter Cup (2000m) at Caulfield from Foujita San and Night Endeavor.

The trio went to the post together and small margins – bob of the heads – separated them with Que Tempeste a further ¾ length adrift.

Torranzino sealed back-to-back Easter Cups for trainer Paul Preusker after Poison Chalice saluted last year.

“He loves Caulfield and he’s got a terrific record here,” stable representative Holly McKechnie said.

“It turned into a really tough 2000m and that’s his forte.”

Busy finish in the Easter Cup!

Torranzino gets up for Celine Gaudray!@MelbRacingClubpic.twitter.com/AsdsGk7q9n

— 7HorseRacing 🐎 (@7horseracing) April 5, 2025

Favourite Poison Chalice, stablemate of the winner, was smashed in the market and looked set to land the plunge but peaked on the run late.

Jockey Celine Gaudray, who combined with Torranzino to win a 2000m race at Caulfield last year, went into the race confident.

“Wangaratta Cup didn’t really go his way (last start second), they went very slow and he went quite aggressively,” Gaudray said.

“Today I was worried I was on the rail but I was fortunate to get off at the right time and follow the right horses through.”

Future History set a solid tempo on speed and led to the turn but faded quickly out of contention.

Originally published as Hayes brothers claim back-to-back Victoria Handicap wins with Nicolini Vito at Caulfield