Comeback Queen Niance is the Ace in the pack

Recent Listed Bel Esprit Stakes (1100m) heroine Niance has gone from near tragedy to triumph after recovering from a life-threatening injury to extend her scintillating streak and set up a spring campaign geared towards Group 1 glory.

On a chilly afternoon in late-May, the mare’s comeback after a 196-day absence from the track warmed the souls of trainer Grahame Begg and her ecstatic ownership group, put together by Ace Bloodstock Director Darcy Mangan who has ridden the highs and lows of racing – and indeed life – since establishing the syndication company three years ago. 

Mangan and his fellow Directors Chris Fraraccio and Robert Colaneri have got some early runs on the board through the likes of stakes winner Snow Patrol and Melbourne Cup Carnival victor Angland, but it is undoubtedly Niance who has the potential scope to put the Ace Bloodstock brand up in lights.     

Having lost both his father Tim, with whom he had first founded Ace Bloodstock, and dual Group 1 winner I Am Thunderstruck in the space of 12 months, Mangan was certainly due a change of fortunes and few would begrudge him the success he and his fellow owners are currently enjoying with Niance. 

Mangan certainly took a punt when, on the advice of renowned bloodstock agent Phil Cataldo and in partnership with Niance’s breeder Gerry Harvey, he was persuaded to invest a significant sum on the daughter of Swiss Ace, who had made a steady rather than spectacular start to her career in New Zealand. 

But following five wins from her first six starts in Australia, everything was looking extremely rosy – until Mangan received a call from Begg in December last year informing him that Niance had suffered a fractured skull. Having already experienced more than his fair share of tragedy, the 35-year-old naturally feared the worst. 

At that point her life – let alone her future racing career – was hanging in the balance, but after a successful operation to repair her skull and remove some loose bone fragments, Niance returned to Grahame Begg’s Cranbourne stables where she was nursed back to full fitness. 

The hardy mare showed no signs of any lingering scar tissue – either mental or physical – with a typically determined display to register her third successive Stakes win in the Bel Esprit Stakes at Caulfield.

“It was obviously a big relief for all of us to see her come back like that,” said Mangan. 

“There were a few days where it was touch and go and we thought we might lose her, I’d been through previous heartbreak when we lost I’m Thunderstruck so it was a really worrying time for all of us. We still don’t know what happened, but we think she must either have flipped over in the paddock or reared up and hit the roof in the barn. 

“They had to operate straight away, and luckily she came through the surgery well and her recovery has gone according to plan. She’s responded so well and it’s almost like it never happened, she seems her normally happy self so it’s quite amazing really.  

“Grahame thought she hadn’t lost any of her ability during her time off, so we went into the race pretty confident that she would run very well but it was still really pleasing to see her return with a win. Knowing how close we came to losing her makes it extra special and we’re definitely enjoying every moment with her now.”

Rather than press on with her campaign in Queensland, the ever-patient Begg has elected to pull the pin and keep her wrapped in cotton wool ahead of a spring preparation which could – according to Mangan – see her stake a claim to be considered one of the country’s best sprinters.

Both the Group 1 Moir Stakes (1000m) and Manikato Stakes (1200m) are now firmly on the radar for her ownership group, which comprises members of Mangan’s family and several friends including Carl Dunn, who played a key support role after his father suffered a life-changing stroke. 

“Dad was in a wheelchair for three or four years before he passed away, and Carl was a massive help during that time,” said Mangan.  

“He used to pick Dad up every week to take him to his physio appointments, and I believe in return Dad gave him his share in the horse. It means a lot to the family to catch up with Carl at the races and to see how much this horse means to him. 

“I’ve also got some close mates in the horse, some of them can get quite rowdy so I reckon there will be plenty of screaming and carrying-on if she can win a big race in the spring. I definitely think she’s up to Group 1 company and I know Grahame has a big opinion of her, so that’s good enough for me.”