News

Sincero begins Cox Plate journey in style with easy win in Memsie Stakes

3rd Sep 2012

Herald Sun - Adrian Dunn - Saturday, 1 September 2012

SYDNEY star Sincero began his Cox Plate assault in impressive fashion with a comfortable win in the Memsie Stakes today at Caulfield.

Trainer Stephen Farley believes Sincero will prove a more formidable Cox Plate contender than he last year when the horse finished ninth behind Pinker Pinker.

Farley has brought the five-year-old down to Melbourne much earlier and noted the horse had proved “competitive against More Joyous”, which is the $6.50 Cox Plate second favourite.

Stablemate, unbeaten colt Pierro firmed from $7.50 to $5.50 Cox Plate favourite on the strength of his effortless win in the Run To The Rose at Rosehill.

Sincero’s win was not overlooked by the TAB, which trimmed his Cox Plate odds from $31 to $17 for the $3 million race.

"He’s a very underrated horse, don’t worry about that. When he’s right, he’s dynamite," Farley said.

"I could not be happier with the way the horse has been going. You can’t get too confident in these races so it was good to see him do it."

Sincero, the $3.60 favourite, drew clear to win by two lengths from Happy Trails, $13, with one a quarter lengths to Lawrence Stakes winner Second Effort.

Michael Rodd viewed Sincero’s win as “very soft” and added that the horse lost his action around the home turn, but responded when he was given a tap with the whip.

"He was just floating for a while, but when I gave him one around the tail he really lengthened out," Rodd said.

"He is such a lovely mover. I just can’t talk highly enough about the horse. He gave me a great feel and looks like being in for a good campaign."

It appears that the spring campaign of West Australian Luckygray, backed from $4.20 to $3.90 favourite, is over.

"He may have come to the end of his preparation.” Shaun O’Donnell told stewards after Luckygray finished 11th in the Memsie Stakes Lloyd Williams’ stayer Green Moon firmed from $17 to $13 outright Caulfield Cup favourite on the strength of his eye-catching fifth behind Sincero.

Green Moon made up many lengths in a performance that delighted jockey Craig Williams.

Sincero ($8,000 2009 Classic, 5g Umatilla-Yours As Always)

McNEIL Stakes winner Lady Of Harrods is a Thousand Guineas entry, but trainer Russell Cameron is cautious if that will be her spring goal.

Cameron noted that Lady Of Harrods, part-owned by a host of ex-footballers Wayne Richardson, Kerry Good and Mark Dawson and legendary football journo Mike Sheahan, may be “too brilliant” for the Thousand Guineas.

The Flemington-based trainer said he was expecting Lady Of Harrods to improve with the improved condition of the track.

"She shows a lot of ability, but the heavy track worked against her last start," Cameron said.

"A lot of thanks must go to Jamie Mott, who has done a lot work with her, but he couldn’t make the weight today."

Lady Of Harrods, a $26 chance, led throughout and defied all challengers to win the $150,000 race by a head from Kabayan, backed from $5 to $4.60, with an identical margin to Shamexpress, $13, third.

Luke Nolen said Kabayan still has much to learn, but added "he’s got some motor".

Craig Williams was enthusiastic about the first-up run from Sham Express, which made up many lengths over the concluding stages.

Mark Zahra said Elite Elle, backed from $2.15 to $2 favourite, was far disgraced in finishing fourth, just a half-length from the winner.

"She’s a good dry tracker, but she is a superior wet tracker," Zahra said.

Michael Walker who partnered Lady Of Harrods to win made it a feature double when he won on Cuban Sunday in the Slickpix Stakes.

Lady Of Harrods ($80,000 2011 Classic, 3f Dubawi-Royal Conspiracy)

Cuban Sunday ($75,000 2008 Weanling, 5g Benicio-Magical Sunday)

WHILE Northern Territory-based trainer Gary Clarke is prospecting somewhere in the outback for gold his talented mare Dream Face posted a first-up win for Peter Moody in the first heat of the Sportingbet Sprint Series.

Dream Face, backed late from $7.50 to $5.50, led throughout to post a comfortable win.

"It’s trained by a great mate of mine, an old Queenslander, Gary Clarke, who goes gold mining this time of year.

"He told the owners to send it down to me as he was too busy earning."

Moody said the owners of Dream Face, a winner of 11 of his 26 starts, mainly in the Northern Territory, were keen to test the mare in Victoria in better quality company.

"She ran well in the Palmerston, which is an above average sprint up there, and came down in great shape."