NICKLAUS (BRZ), a three-year-old colt by Point Given, raced to a 1.25-length debut success in a Maiden Plate over 1200m at Clairwood on Tuesday.

Anthony Delpech held the reins of the powerful chestnut, who looks set for a good career.

Nicklaus was sent to South Africa last year by breeder Fazenda Mondesir (of Il Sanpietro fame), who retained half of the ownership, the other half split between Chris Haynes and Gary Grant of the Equine Group, Mike de Kock, Dr John and Mrs Amanda McVeigh, George Ragunan, JJ van der Linden and Noeline Malherbe.

Grant, who has been battling to keep track of all his recent winners, commented: “Mike thinks quite a bit of Nicklaus and thinks he is a 2000m horse, so the fact that he won over 1200m is very encouraging.”

Mike and Jehan Malherbe bought Opium, a half-brother to Nicklaus by Elusive Quality, at the Top Classic Sale in Brazil a few weeks ago.