Fans of More Joyous would be pleased to see the Randwick track on the improve but rival trainer Stephen Farley would be just as happy for the surface to remain heavy for Saturday’s $2 million Doncaster Mile.
Farley will saddle up dual Group One winner Sincero, the four-year-old who six months ago ventured to Randwick as the favourite for the Epsom Handicap only to finish midfield.
Sincero heads back to Randwick on Saturday and Farley couldn’t be happier with the preparation his stable star has had.
Randwick was upgraded to a heavy (8) early on Friday and after a warm day track manager Nevesh Ramdhani was confident that with no further rain the Doncaster meeting could be run on a slow track.
“To be honest I would prefer it to stay heavy,” Farley said.
“That probably takes More Joyous out of it more than anything else.
“My bloke has won well on a very heavy track before (in the Gosford Guineas) and it would be interesting to see how he goes on a heavy track at this level.
“I couldn’t be happier with the horse. He has come through his last run very well and seems to have gone forward from there.”
Winner of the Stradbroke Handicap and George Main Stakes last year, Sincero has raced competitively in two star-studded weight-for-age events this campaign.
The gelding had barrier 11 when beaten less than two lengths by More Joyous in the Canterbury Stakes (1300m).
He then stuck to his task despite a tough run in the George Ryder Stakes (1500m) from barrier 17 when beaten just half a length into fifth place.
“He has had no favours in the runs and they have probably been up there with his best performances ever,” Farley said.
Sincero has been supported with TAB Sportsbet this week and was on the fourth line of betting at $8.50 on Friday behind More Joyous ($5.50), Secret Admirer ($6.50) and Shoot Out ($8).
Hugh Bowman, who rides Shoot Out in the Doncaster, has ridden Sincero at his past two starts but Craig Williams will have his first ride on the gelding on Saturday.
“He’s probably riding in the best form of his career and is probably one of the best in the world at the moment so I’m more than happy to have him on,” Farley said.
“I haven’t spoken to him yet but everyone tells me how much form and preparation he does so he probably nearly knows more about the horse than me.”
Farley believes the Doncaster is a very open affair.
“There’s a lot of chances in the race,” he said.
“If More Joyous turns up and gets the right conditions then she’ll be very hard to beat. She’s a class act.
“And Secret Admirer gets relief in weight back to 54 kilograms and has a great record at the Randwick mile.
“Other than that I thought it was a very, very even race.”
