News

Gosford bog no issue for three-year-old

27th Apr 2011

The Daily Telegraph - Ray Thomas - Tuesday, 26 April 2011

SINCERO defied a bog track and an alarming betting drift to demonstrate why he is regarded as one of the most exciting horses in training with an outstanding win in the Listed $250,000 Gosford Guineas (1600m) on Monday.

Trainer Steve Farley admitted to a sense of relief after his gamble to start Sincero first-up on a deteriorating Gosford track surface was vindicated after his powerful three-year-old thrashed a quality field.

Sincero had never raced on a heavy track before and the worst run of his career came on a slow surface, which may have prompted punters to desert the gelding in pre-post betting, allowing him to ease from $2.50 to $5.

Even Farley admitted to having some doubts, but his giant three-year-old simply monstered his Guineas rivals to win by five lengths from Happy Patrick ($3.90) with Celts ($8) nearly four lengths away third.

"The more rain that fell, the more worried I became. But I'm feeling very relieved now," an elated Farley said.

Start of sidebar. Skip to end of sidebar. .End of sidebar. Return to start of sidebar. "I never really thought about scratching him even when the track got to a heavy 10 as I had to start him - we were beginning to fall behind in his preparation."

Jockey Chris O'Brien again rode Sincero with a confidence bordering on arrogance.He made his run on Sincero from the 600m, moving up alongside Happy Patrick as the pair swept to the front on turning for home.

But what appeared likely to be a close contest became a one-horse race as O'Brien sent Sincero streaking clear of the favourite.

"He's a pretty nice horse," Farley said, in something of an understatement.

Sincero will now go into the $250,000 Inglis Guineas (1600m) at Scone on May 14 without another race. But Farley plans to give his stable star a searching barrier trial test at Randwick on May 6.

"I'll trial him against open-class horses," the trainer said. "That will give him a trip away and a solid hitout before Scone."

Farley also revealed he will today pay the nomination fee for Sincero into the Group 1 Stradbroke Handicap (1400m) at Eagle Farm on June 11.

"I'll probably look to run him the week before the Stradbroke in the QTC Cup," Farley said. "We will see how he goes there before deciding whether to run in the Stradbroke or the Queensland Guineas, which is the same day."Sincero remains unbeaten this season, winning each of his five starts in impressive fashion.

His Guineas triumph improved his career record to seven wins from just 10 starts and nearly $300,000 prizemoney. He was a bargain basement purchase for just $8000 as a yearling from the Inglis Classic Sale two years ago and is now very hot property, with the gelding's connections receiving huge offers to sell the horse.

Farley said Sincero's owners were "having too much fun" watching their talented sprinter win race after race to consider selling him.

The previously unbeaten Happy Patrick lost no admirers with his game second.