Sistine Demon Chasing Fourth Straight Win In Skipton Handicap

In-form gelding Sistine Demon will be chasing his fourth straight victory when he backs-up in the Skipton Handicap (1630m) at Flemington on Saturday.

Brad Rawiller will partner Sistine Demon in the Skipton Handicap at Flemington this weekend.

Brad Rawiller will partner Sistine Demon in the Skipton Handicap at Flemington this weekend. Photo by: Daniel Costello

Sistine Demon stepped-up in class to record an impressive victory in the Western Health Handicap (1410m) at Flemington last weekend and trainer Andrew Noblet has confirmed that, at this stage, he plans to give the Excites gelding his second run in seven days.

The weather in Melbourne on both Thursday and Friday is predicted to be extremely hot and Noblet told TVN that he will be doing everything possible to make sure that Sistine Demon and his entire team gets through the heat wave comfortably.

“The most important thing is keeping them hydrated through these really hot days,” Noblet said.

“I’ve never backed him up before, but he seems to have come through last Saturday really well, so at this stage I can’t find a reason why he wouldn’t run again.

“We’ll just make sure he gets through the next few days first.”

Sistine Demon recorded only one win in his first six career starts, taking out the Whitehorse Truck Handicap (1200m) at Ballarat in April, but this preparation has been a completely different horse and recorded three wins from five starts.

He started his campaign with a second place finish behind subsequent Coolmore Stud Stakes runner-up Not Listenin’tome in the Hygain Handicap (1200m) at Ballarat on October 10 and had no luck when fourth in the Melbourne Truck Centre Handicap (1200m) at Mornington on November 3.

The four-year-old returned to the winners stall with a comfortable victory in the Donald Hotel After Party Handicap (1350m) on November 17 and scored his maiden metropolitan victory with a narrow win over Remagen Bridge and Kimiko in the City Jeep Handicap (1500m) at Moonee Valley on November 29.

Sistine Demon was considered one of several winning chances in what was a very open race at Flemington last weekend, with regular jockey Michelle Payne electing to ride Prince Of Penzance, but he was far too good for the rest of the field.

Sistine Demon ($3) is a clear favourite to beat what looks to be a weaker field in the Skipton Handicap this weekend; with the gelding on top of the betting market from Defiant Angel ($4.60), Chile Express ($5), Quick Snitzel ($5.50) and Gig ($8).

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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.