The lucrative ATC Sires’ Produce Stakes in Sydney this April could now be calling for the untapped Aaron Purcell-trained Not A Single Cent following his convincing win in the VRC Sires’ Produce Stakes 2018 at Flemington on Super Saturday.

A trip to Sydney this ‘The Championships’ could be on the cards for 2018 VRC Sires’ Produce Stakes winner Not A Single Cent. Photo: Ultimate Racing Photos.

The time-honoured Group 2 $200,000 MSS Security Sires’ Produce Stakes (1400m) saw a field of 13 promising two-year-olds line-up including Purcell’s $10 shot Not A Single Cent drawn the rails with Mark Zahra coming on for the ride.

The Not A Single Doubt colt ran an eye-catching fifth on debut at Caulfield over 1200m on February 21 producing the fastest final sectional of the day.

Improving on that at just his second start, Not A Single Cent came late, got the room he needed and wound-up in the final few hundred meters to score the upset at $10 odds in the VRC Sires’ Produce Stakes with Zahra taking advantage of that inside barrier.

The Lindsay Park-trained Seberate on the back of a fourth to subsequent Ladbrokes Blue Diamond winner Written By in the Prelude on February 10 pushed forward to take the early lead with Tin Hat on the rails.

Coming off a good Ballarat win, the Godolphin galloper Tin Hat moved up to snare the front-running position and held that lead at the 450m.

Seberate was quick to move up and challenge, the duo running stride for stride over the final 250m.

Producing another gun late finish, Not A Single Cent came at the leading duo and took to the front at the 50m, holding to beat Seberate ($9.50) by a half-length with the Matt Cumani-trained Akkadian ($17) a further half-length back again for third.

Showing nice improvement off his luckless first-up performance, Not A Single Cent fended his rivals off well late and still has all the upside being so lightly-raced.

“I drew one…just panned out perfect for us,” winning hoop Zahra said after the race.

“He’s just come along in leaps and bounds.

“He’s just naturally done it by himself today [without blinkers].

“I guarantee a better horse next time in for sure.”

Purcell confirmed that all going well, Not A Single Cent would likely head to the Sydney Autumn Racing Carnival now looking at an April 7 run in Randwick’s Group 1 $1 million ATC Sires’ Produce Stakes (1400m) during ‘The Championships’.

“He’s a big strong horse, he’s been in work quite a while,” Purcell said.

“Everything’s worked out well on the day.

“There’s a good chance he’ll head to Sydney now.

“He’s always a strong horse, finishing off his work really well.

“The gaps came for him today and when the pressure come, he dug deep and he was really strong to the line.”

All-in ATC Sires’ Produce Stakes 2018 odds at Ladbrokes.com.au on Not A Single Cent have firmed dramatically in from $101 to $13.

2018 VRC Sires’ Produce Stakes Results & Finishing Order

Flemington Race 4 – 10/03/2018