Sircconi will make his Sydney debut in the ATC Sires Produce Stakes
Melbourne jockey Stephen Baster will reunite with Sircconi for a Group One race at Randwick.
Baster hasn’t ridden Sircconi in a race to date but was involved in the early education of the two-year-old who makes his Sydney debut in the ATC Sires’ Produce Stakes on Saturday.
After winning a Cranbourne barrier trial on the colt last November, Baster was replaced by Linda Meech when the two-year-old made his debut at Moonee Valley.
After a spell, Sircconi made his return with a second to Eshtiraak over 1300m at Sandown before going on to win the Group Two VRC Sires’ Produce Stakes at Flemington on March 11.
Meech has been aboard for the colt’s only three starts but as she also holds a trainer’s licence in Victoria, Racing NSW will not allow her to take the mount in Sydney on Saturday.
“She hasn’t had a runner yet so I said just throw your (trainer’s) licence in and get it back next week,” Baster said.
“Anyway I told her she pinched the ride off me as I rode him in his first trial.”
Sircconi was not among original nominations for the 1400m Group One race with connections parting with $22,000 to get the colt into Saturday’s race.
Baster says Sircconi should have no problems adapting to racing right-handed on Saturday.
“He’s a very nice horse and he does everything right,” Baster said.
“I did a bit of work on him the reverse way the other day at Sandown and he was good.
“He’s adaptable and gets on his right leg and I don’t think a wet track will bother him.
“Linda rode him in a trial when he ran second on a heavy track at Cranbourne, but that’s the only time he’s been on it.”
Baster will also ride Modern Wonder for Leon and Troy Corstens when the filly runs in the P J Bell Stakes (1200m).
He has been aboard the filly at her past four starts, the latest when she finished ninth in the Kewney Stakes (1400m) at Flemington on March 11.
