News

Offers flood in for $8,000 bargain buy

20th Dec 2010

The Sunday Telegraph - Ray Thomas - Sunday, 19 December 2010

TRAINER Steve Farley expects his phone will start ringing off the hook with offers to buy Sincero after the sprinter's stunning win at Royal Randwick yesterday.

Sincero made the jump to Saturday grade look like a walk in the park when he strolled home in the Sydney City Toyota Handicap (1400m).Purchased for just $8000 as a yearling, Sincero looks a Group-class horse in the making and already has attracted the attention of equine talent scouts.

Farley said he has received a number of offers to buy the horse and although reluctant to reveal details, it is estimated the latest bid was well over $500,000.

"I'd say the phone will be ringing hot now," the Wyong-based trainer said. "But this horse isn't for sale.

"There are 10 shareholders in Sincero and they are having too much fun racing him."

Sincero was backed into $2.15 favouritism and despite enduring a tough run three wide without cover for most of the race, he completely outclassed his rivals to score easing down by 2 1/4 lengths from Demanding Miss ($6.50) with Secession ($15) a further 1 1/4 lengths away third.

Further underlining the merit of Sincero's win was his time - a class-record 1min 22.49sec for the Randwick 1400m - a swift gallop even though the three-year-old was never fully tested.

Sincero drew the outside of the nine-horse field and jockey Chris O'Brien elected to go back early to try to slot in close to the fence.

Instead, Sincero was trapped three wide without cover at the rear of the field for most of the race. However, O'Brien never panicked. He waited until the turn to ease his mount out to the centre of the track and he very quickly reeled in his rivals to have the race safely in his keeping 200m out.

"Chris had to go back further than we wanted to be in the run but he knows this horse so well," Farley continued.

"Sincero has a turn of foot that is unbelievable - I've never seen one like him.

"I don't want to get too carried away just yet but he is doing all of the right things."

O'Brien is an experienced jockey who has ridden many good horses over the years and he has no doubts Sincero is capable of measuring up to stakes level at least.

"I had a bit to do with [Caulfield Stakes winner and Cox Plate runner-up] Northern Drake and this horse has a similar turn of foot," O'Brien said.

"Even though we were trapped wide, I wasn't worried because the tempo up front was solid enough.

"I knew he would pick them up quickly because he has such brilliant acceleration. He could not have been more impressive today and the scary thing is he is only going to get better."

Sincero completed a hat-trick of wins from as many starts this preparation and improved his career record to five wins from just eight starts, taking his prizemoney to nearly $100,000. Farley said he may give Sincero one more start before giving the gelding a spell.

"I'm thinking we will aim him at races like the Gosford Guineas, Hawkesbury Guineas and the Inglis race at Scone," he added.