Epsom Handicap betting favourite Sincero is set to continue their spring carnival campaign this Saturday in Sydney, trainer Stephen Farley nominating the Stradbroke Handicap hero for the 2011 George Main Stakes.
George Main Stakes Day 2011 will run a Rosehill Gardens after being transferred from its traditional home at Royal Randwick.
Epsom Handicap favourite Sincero is one of 15 2011 George Main Stakes nominees
The meeting features a bumper programme packed full of black-type action for the Luxbet customers, racing headlined by the $350,000 Group 1 George Main Stakes to run over an amended distance of 1500 metres, cut from 1600 metres, which Wyong-based horseman Farley believes will work in Sincero’s favour.
“I’m happier to run over the 1500 metres at Rosehill than a tough mile at Randwick,” Farley said.
There were 15 gallopers in the George Main Stakes 2011 nominations, Sincero one of the highest-rated entries.
The Umatilla gelding kicked off their four-year-old season with a gritty final-stride victory over Secret Admirer in the Group 3 Tramway Handicap (1400m) at Warwick Farm on September 3 and will look to go back-to-back in the George Main.
Sincero currently sits at the top of the odds for another major Sydney Spring Carnival feature, the $500,000 Group 1 Epsom Handicap (1600m) to run at Randwick on October 1.
Equal $6 favourite with Secret Admirer in the Epsom Handicap odds at Luxbet, today Sincero was allocated 56.5kg with the release of the Epsom weights for this year – topped by the Mick Price-trained Heart Of Dreams with 58kg.
Grahame Begg’s Group 1 Coolmore Flight Stakes winning mare Secret Admirer is also set to contest the George Main Stakes 2011 and turn the tables on her last-start Tramway Handicap conqueror Sincero.
Begg also has last year’s Randwick Guineas champion Ilovethiscity among the George Main Stakes nominations, the Magic Albert four-year-old having failed last Saturday when running eighth behind upset Sebring Sprint winner Master Of Design at Rosehill.
The George Main Stakes this Saturday is looking like a thriller with a handful of other Group 1 winners nominated for the weight-for-age showdown.
Other notable entries include three of the top four placegetters in the Group 2 Chelmsford Stakes (1600m) at Warwick farm on September 3 with winner Trusting, who ran second to More Joyous in the George Main Stakes 12 months ago; Chris Waller’s star import My Kingdom Of Fife (2nd); and former two-time Stradbroke Handicap winner Black Piranha (3rd), who was the George Main Stakes runner-up in 2009 behind Road To Rock.
The George Main Stakes final field and barriers are due for release on Wednesday and will be published here at Races.com.au along with a detailed race and betting preview.
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2011 George Main Stakes Nominations
| # | Horse | Trainer | Hcp. Rtg. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | BLACK PIRANHA | Con Karakatsanis | 112 |
| 2 | DEALER PRINCIPAL | Anthony Cummings | 98 |
| 3 | DO RA MI (NZ) | Peter G Moody | 95 |
| 4 | FORETELLER (GB) | Chris Waller | 103 |
| 5 | GATHERING | John P Thompson | 107 |
| 6 | ILOVETHISCITY | Grahame Begg | 109 |
| 7 | MY KINGDOM OF FIFE (GB) | Chris Waller | 114 |
| 8 | SACRED CHOICE | Joseph Pride | 115 |
| 9 | SINCERO | Stephen Farley | 112 |
| 10 | STARTSMEUP | Bruce W Hill | 95 |
| 11 | THANKGODYOU’REHERE | Patrick & Wayne Webster | 102 |
| 12 | TOM’S ROCKET | Joseph Pride | 78 |
| 13 | TRIPLE ELEGANCE | Chris Waller | 106 |
| 14 | TRUSTING | John P Thompson | 112 |
| 15 | ZARA DANCER (NZ) | Bruce Wallace | 85 |
