She isn’t the most reliable horse in training but Cigar Flick has managed to end a 13-month run of outs with a barnstorming performance on the final Saturday city meeting of the Sydney season.
Having been out of the winner’s list since scoring at Eagle Farm in June last year, Cigar Flick relished a solid tempo, unleashing a strong run down the outside to claim Saturday’s ATC Thank You Trainers Handicap (1100m) at Randwick.
Trainer Chris Waller admitted the mare was hard to catch but said she was a darling to have around the stable.
“She is going well but she has reached her level so it’s not easy to win,” Waller said.
“She needs everything to flow. She needs to come into the race at the right time, the right track conditions and today it was in her favour.
“She is a lovely horse. Beautiful. She won’t have too much more racing.
“Her mum is a sister to Fangirl so she is well bred and she will go to stud this year.”
While Cigar Flick is destined for the breeding barn, Waller believes she can snare another win before embarking on her new career.
“We will see what else we can find. This type of distance and these type of conditions and she can win another one of them,” he said.
Patiently handled by Tommy Berry, Cigar Flick ($13) settled well back and ran over the top of her rivals to down World Alliance ($11) by 1-1/4 lengths with Bundeena ($8) another half-length away third.
After the win, Waller took a moment to reflect on another outstanding season and said he was already looking forward to the new racing term ahead.
“It has been a good season and we’re already warmed up and ready to go for the new season,” he said.
“You’ve seen most of the (star) horses have their first trial. Some are having their second trials on Tuesday and the real big guns are trialling again two weeks after their first trials.
“We’ve just got to work out where they all head and try to split them up as best we can.”
James Cummings saddled up his final Sydney starter as head trainer for Godolphin in the race but Tarpaulin was unable to give him a fitting sendoff.
Starting a $3.60 betting favourite, the gelding was slow to begin before mustering speed to lead and racing ungenerously from there, puncturing in the straight to finish second last.
However, Cummings did land a double with his only two runners at Kembla Grange courtesy of Cinsault and Tong Ho, while Kin was runner-up in the Bletchingly Stakes (1200m) at Caulfield.
