Sincero has won the Group 1 Stradbroke Handicap at Eagle Farm
The Stephen Farley trained Sincero has taken out the Stradbroke Handicap, producing a stunning turn of foot to overhaul Beaded in the final stages.
Sincero was favourite for the Stradbroke a fortnight ago, however after a less than impressive turnout in the QTC Cup, his odds blew out and many had written the horse off, but Farley maintained the faith.
“This is such a great thrill. We had some knockers after last weekend but I knew what a good horse he was and he’s bounced back beautifully.” Farley said.
Farley put the turnaround in form down to a week in the Queensland sun and also said that adding blinkers to the horses gear really helped him settle.
It was also an emotional win for jockey Jason Taylor. Taylor only picked up the ride on Sincero because his regular jockey Chris O’Brien couldn’t make the 50.5kg, and because Glen Boss decided to ride in Hong Kong this weekend.
“This horse just lets down fantastically. I was always confident,” said Taylor who had copped some criticism over his ride on Sincero in the QTC Cup.
“I was always confident because I know how this horse runs. He needs plenty of galloping room, which meant that the inside gate was a bit of an awkward draw. But we managed to get into a position just off the pace and once I was on the back of Beaded I knew the race was all over.”
Beaded came agonisingly close to becoming the first mare since 1936 to win the Stradbroke, but she was overhauled in the shadows of the post for the second year running. During the week Beaded’s trainer Peter Snowden said that 1400m was right at the edge of her distance range and in what turned out to be an astute judgement. Zero Rock also tried hard to break the curse of the mares but could only manage third.
Listen Son led the field under tyring at the home corner, while Buffering who was sitting second the entire journey looked to be travelling strongly at the 200m mark but faded slightly to finish fourth. Beaded hit the front at the furlong pole and looked the winner until Taylor pulled off her back and went straight past her.
Sincero joins Sniper’s Bullet, Private Steer and Rough Habit as horses who have taken out the weight for age sprint as three year olds.
Love Conquers All jumped as favourite for the race but wasn’t sighted in the finish, while Sincero and Beaded jumped as equal second favourites at $7.00.
