Sistonic Heads to Typhoon Tracy Stakes, Nick Hall to ride

Black Caviar’s three quarter sister Sistonic will have her third jockey from as many starts when Nick Hall takes over the reins in the Group 3 $150,000 Typhoon Tracy Stakes (1200m) at Moonee Valley on February 27.

Nick Hall will be the new rider for Sistonic in the Typhoon Tracy Stakes at Moonee Valley. Photo by Adrienne Bicknell.

Nick Hall will be the new rider for Sistonic in the Typhoon Tracy Stakes at Moonee Valley. Photo by Adrienne Bicknell.

Sistonic has produced two impressive wins from two race starts with Linda Meech steering the filly to a four and half lengths debut win over 1100m at Sale on January 15 and then she was eased down on the line by apprentice Jye McNeil to record a three quarters of a length win over 1200m at Moonee Valley on January 30.

The Bel Esprit three year old had been dogged by on-going knee problems but co trainer’s David Hayes and Tom Dabernig have worked hard to overcome the injuries since she was transferred to their care at Lindsay Park at Euroa just over three months ago.

“She’s obviously up to the best but her knees have given her quite a bit of trouble in her early days,” Hayes told RSN’s Correct Weight.

“She was originally trained by Anthony Cummings and then she was sent to me about 14 weeks ago at the start of this preparation.

“We’ve just taken our time and gradually built her up and I think training her on the hills where she can do her fast work up hill and doesn’t have to go as fast has really suited her and the only real fast work she does now is in a race.”

Even though Hayes said that he wasn’t happy that McNeil eased the filly down in the run to the line at Moonee Valley, he added that Hall was always in the line to the ride Sistonic when she progressed to Stakes company.

“Nick Hall is booked in the short term, Nick did a lot of riding on her early and Nick does a lot of riding for (Sistonic’s owner) Robert Crabtree,” Hayes said.

“I was frustrated. I thought it put the filly at risk to be beaten because she switches off when the jockey switches off and all he had to do was maintain her rolling along and she would have won by three lengths and still had an easy run.”

Sistonic was one of three winners for the Hayes and Dabernig team at Moonee Valley last Friday night and a double at Flemington on Saturday saw them join last year’s premier trainer Darren Weir at the top of the 2014 – 2015 Melbourne trainer’s premiership with forty-five wins for the season.

Hayes and Dabernig’s other winners over the weekend were Tawteen and Razzle Dazzle Rock at Moonee Valley and Wawail  and Gracious Prospect at Flemington.

About The Author

Mark Mazzaglia

Mark is a passionate journalist with a life-time involvement in the racing industry. He spent many years as an analyst and form expert at the Courier Mail and also has hands-on experience working with some of Queensland’s top trainers.