Cambridge-based Marsh sent Petagna's talented filly Luella Cristina to his Riccarton satellite barn for the Autumn last season, after her third-place finish in the Gr.1 Levin Classic (1600m). The regally-bred daughter of Snitzel went on to finish runner-up in both the Listed NZB Airfreight Stakes (1600m) and Listed NZB Warstep Stakes (2000m), earning her the 2022-23 Southern Filly Of The Year crown.
Nikaia, a three-year-old daughter of Ardrossan, recorded her maiden victory at Otaki in December after knocking on the door in previous starts, however faced a tough run in her first major test when finishing at the tail of the field in the Levin Classic.
Marsh subsequently sent the filly for a freshen-up with a light trial at Cambridge in late February preceding a trip south to join the in-form trainer's South Island contingent, with her first start coming in a competitive Peterson's Jewellers Ladies Bracelet Three-Year-Old (1400m) on Saturday.
In the hands of Northern hoop Tegan Newman, Nikaia found a comfortable position just better than midfield, as last-start winner Contemplation Bay set a strong tempo at the top. The filly travelled strongly into contention but needed every metre of the straight to run down the gallant leader, Nikaia prevailing by a nose to kick off her southern stakes quest in style.
Marsh was thrilled with the filly's performance, indicating her next start would be back at Riccarton Park in three weeks' time, in the Listed NZB Insurance Stakes (1600m).
"I thought she was really good, she hasn't raced for a long time, and had just the one quiet trial after a long trip down there," he said.
"She's settled really well in Christchurch, we've just got a small stable with twelve boxes, it a nice, quiet environment for her.
"She'd probably just come to the end of her campaign in the Levin Classic, after running some really solid races beforehand, so we expected her to be very competitive.
"She'll run in the fillies' mile in three weeks' time, and she'll only improve further from today onto her next assignments. We're very happy going forward, it would be great to get some black-type with her."
Out of the unraced mare Femme Britannia, Nikaia is a half-sister to Group Three-winner Choice.
Nikaia was bred by the Dewar Partnership, consisting of owners Petagna, bloodstock agent Bruce Perry and wife Anna, David and Nicki Wilson, Max Brown, and Tony Joyce. The lightly-tried filly has now recorded two victories and a minor placing from five race-day starts, accumulating $35,985 in stakes.
