Sincero Fitter Ahead Of George Main Stakes

Trainer Steve Farley is happy with the condition of Sincero ahead of his second-up start in the Group 1 George Main Stakes (1600m) at Royal Randwick on Saturday.

Trainer Steve Farley is expecting a strong performance from Sincero in the Group 1 George Main Stakes at Caulfield on Saturday. Photo by: Race Horse Photos Australia

Sincero had his first run for over ten months in the Group 3 Tramway Stakes (1400m) and although he finished towards the tail of the field had plenty of excuses after being caught wide early on a track that had an obvious on-pace bias.

Farley told TVN that Sincero had come through his first-up run well and said he is looking forward to seeing how the Umatilla gelding performs against a strong field in the Group 1 event.

“I was happy with his effort and more importantly he has come through the run really well,” Farley said.

“He’s sound and fitter now and this race on Saturday is really strong with a lot of very even horses.

“It will tell us where we are at with him at the moment.”

The Group 1 Cox Plate (2040m) has been the major goal for Sincero in the past two years but Farley plans to take a different path during the 2013 Spring Racing Carnival.

Farley has penciled in the Group 1 Emirates Stakes (1600m) at Flemington on November 9 as the target for the six-year-old but is also considering a tilt at the Group 1 Epsom Handicap (1600m) at Royal Randwick on October 5, after Sincero was allocated 57kg by the handicapper.

“I have just been taking it one race at a time, but we’ll see what happens on Saturday,” Farley said.

“I might run him in the Epsom, or give him a week to 10 days off, then have one more run up here in Sydney before going to Melbourne for the Emirates at Flemington.”

Sincero is chasing his second victory in the George Main Stakes, after winning the race in 2011, but will need to be at his best against a strong field that included last year’s winner Shoot Out, the in-form Hawkspur, Caulfield Cup contender Royal Descent, five-time Group 1 winner Veyron and classy colt Dissident.

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Thomas Hackett

Thomas is a passionate and opinionated racing journalist and punter who has been obsessed with horse racing since he backed Saintly to win the 1996 Melbourne Cup. An international racing enthusiast, he has his finger on the pulse of racing news not just from Australia but all around the world.