Early favourite to win Queensland’s richest sprint feature, next month’s Stradbroke Handicap, Sincero continued their brilliant succession of wins at Scone on Saturday.
Prepared by Stephen Farley in Wyong, three-year-old Umatilla gelding Sincero has now won their last six starts since November last season and is well on their way to Group 1 glory during the Brisbane Winter Racing Carnival.
On Saturday Sincero showed the racing world he was more than just a promising youngster with a smart one and a quarter length victory in the $250,000 Inglis 3YO Scone Guineas (1600m).
Given a little bit of a challenge by eventual runner-up Speediness on the straight, Sincero pulled out a powerful late burst and strode to a strong victory.
“He is very tough and not many horses get past him when he gets to the front,” Farley said.
“He always travelled good in the run and Chris (O’Brien / jockey) was confident.
“He is the type of horse, the more they attack him, the more he gives.”
The win was Sincero’s eighth from 11 starts and boosted their total career earnings to over $450,000, a nice figure for connections seeing as the consistent galloper was purchased for just $8,000.
“I don’t know how good he is,” Farley said after the big win.
“He has always showed ability and the good thing with this horse is he just keeps improving, maturing both mentally and physically.”
Owned by a syndicate of race fans who loyally support trainer Stephen “Crusher” Farley, Sincero is the group’s ace asset.
“We’re blessed to have a horse like this,” part-owner Greg De Vries said.
“I heard about him as a two-year-old, he was special.
“They reckon he has been here before, he has come from heaven and Stephen has done a super job.”
Punters have been keen to back Sincero since early markets for the $1 million Group 1 Stradbroke Handicap (1400m) opened last month.
They are now sitting firm in the market for the June 11 feature at Eagle Farm paying $4.20.
Despite his dominance this season and in the Stradbroke betting, Sincero is still not a confirmed starter for the handicap showdown with trainer Farley saying he still needs to show he can bring his form to the sunshine state.
“He will probably have to win his next start, the QTC Cup, to be certain of getting a run in the Stradbroke,” Farley said.
The $175,000 Group 2 QTC Cup (1300m) runs at Eagle Farm the Saturday before the Stradbroke Handicap.
De Vries confirmed the Brisbane Carnival plans for the emerging star.
“This (Scone) was always the mina target, the grand final, but it looks like we’re going to Brisbane,” he said.
On Saturday Sincero was ridden by Chris O’Brien but gun Group 1 winning hoop Glen Boss has been booked for the Stradbroke ride if they make the field due to the weight difference.
Sincero will carry around 50kg for the QTC Cup, a massive drop down and a huge advantage.
