News

Sincero thanks as Farley stays focused on the biggest prize

10th Jun 2011

Sydney Morning Herald - Craig Young - Friday, 10 June 2011

Premiership heavyweights Chris Waller and Peter Snowden had some kindly pre-Stradbroke Handicap advice for rival Stephen Farley, the Wyong-based trainer who has found himself in foreign territory.

Tips on not just campaigning in Queensland but how to handle an above-average thoroughbred. Farley has one in lightly raced three-year-old Sincero, which this time last week was favourite for tomorrow's Stradbroke Handicap.

Top billing in betting for Queensland's premier horse race was lost when Sincero was well beaten as favourite in last Saturday's QTC Cup at Eagle Farm.

Farley was left downcast, immediately questioning himself. What had he done wrong? Should I have done this? What about doing that?

''Peter [Snowden] told me the run wasn't as bad as it looked,'' Farley said this week from his base at Brisbane training centre Deagon.

''Chris [Waller] asked me how the horse pulled up and I said, 'Fair. I've got a big decision to make, do I go to the Queensland Guineas or the Stradbroke?'

''He [Waller] must have gone and watched the replay for when I went to get my colours out of the jockeys' room he said, 'Stick to your plan.'''

In a game where little quarter is given, the advice offered from two of the game's most influential players wasn't lost on Farley.

''It is a learning curve for me, they've been there and done it,'' he said. ''They have been in this situation before and I'm thankful they took time out to have a chat with me.

''Chris told me what happened when he won his first group 1, the Doncaster with Triple Honour.

''He told me as a short-priced favourite the horse had run [poorly] in his lead-up. Said he was going to spell him but some bloke come up to him, he didn't say who it was, but the bloke told him, 'If the horse pulls up good, run him [in the Doncaster], you've got nothing to lose'. He came out and won the Doncaster.''

So Farley and his team of committed owners will ''have a shot at the stumps''. The horse Farley found at the Inglis Classic Sale for a paltry $8000 and which he broke in himself will have a crack at earning some of the $1 million prizemoney.

The horse which has won eight of 12 starts, including the Gosford and Scone guineas, and accumulated $450,750 in prizemoney is going to group 1 level for the first time.

''If he ran in Saturday's Queensland Guineas and came out and won by three lengths you would be asking yourself, 'Why didn't I run in the Stradbroke?','' Farley said.

''As Chris Waller said, 'What is another guineas to you?' He wasn't being smart, he just told me, 'You need a group 1 next to your name.'''

From the one barrier in the QTC Cup, Sincero was strung up along the fence with rivals giving him no peace in the run. As jockey Tim Clark, who rides Zero Rock in the Stradbroke, said after the 11th placing, Sincero went to the finishing post ''with limited room''.

Not good for a long-striding thoroughbred which has a dazzling turn of foot when allowed free galloping room. The QTC Cup disappointment left Farley searching for a Stradbroke jockey as Glen Boss canned a commitment to return from Singapore to ride the three-year-old.

Farley went looking for a senior jockey who could ride light and remain strong of mind and body. He found the Gold Coast-based Jason Taylor, who made a special trip up the freeway to partner Sincero in a gallop at Deagon. Farley applied the blinkers to Sincero and he'll wear them in the Stradbroke.

''Win, lose or draw I do think this trip away is going to make this horse,'' Farley said. ''He has never been away, never worked away from Wyong racecourse, but I know he is enjoying it up here.''

Routine blood tests have been carried out and the results were more than satisfying. Farley has even had the local chiropractor go over the horse and nothing was found to be causing a problem.

All is in readiness for the Stradbroke in which Sincero will start from barrier three if the fourth emergency comes out. A little closer to the fence than Farley would have liked but there are no complaints. ''He is doing well,'' he said. ''Everything is right, I can't complain.''

Photo: SINCERO & connections after $250,000 Inglis Guineas at Scone