Former jockey Craig Carmody celebrated his biggest win as a trainer when Single took out the Listed Sky High Stakes at Rosehill to set up a possible start in the Group One Doncaster.
Carmody has been patient with Single, spacing his runs to effect with the four-year-old now boasting a record of six wins from 10 starts.
The gelding didn’t make it easy for jockey Nathan Berry, dropping out last in Saturday’s 1900m race off a slow pace set by Reuben Percival and Fiumicino.
Berry made his move round the home turn and the $2.50 favourite ambled up to the field before showing his immaturity by wanting to lay in.
But Berry knew what he had underneath him and steered Single to the line to beat Southern Skye ($81) by a half-neck with veteran Fiumicino ($14) another 1-3/4 lengths away third.
“I was a bit surprised he was that far back and I had a few anxious moments in the straight,” Carmody said.
“I have to admit I was concerned but in the end it was a good win.
“I threw in an ambitious nomination for the Doncaster but there are a couple of other options if he doesn’t get in.
“I’m just excited to get my first stakes win.”
Berry has ridden Single to four of his wins and said he was an exciting horse.
I”ve ridden about nine Listed winners but he is the best of those,” he said.
“He is still immature and it would be exciting if he got to the Doncaster.”
The Doncaster Mile is at Randwick on April 21.
Fiumicino’s owner Nick Moraitis was scathing in his assessment of the handicapper who gave the eight-year-old 60kg topweight.
“I’m sick of the handicappers,” Moraitis said.
“He hasn’t won for three years and didn’t race for two and still he has to carry these weights.”
Fiumicino will switch to weight-for-age for his next start in the Group One BMW, the race he won three years ago.
