It took 10 hard years but Wyong trainer Steve Farley’s career finally came of age when Sincero gave him his first Group One winner in the $1 million Stradbroke Handicap at Eagle Farm.
Sincero, who lost admirers and gained many critics following his defeat in last week’s Group Two QTC Cup, stormed home to deny the Darley-trained Beaded a slice of Stradbroke history by a short neck.
Gutsy Brisbane mare Zero Rock was a further 1-3/4 lengths away third.
Beaded was one of four mares attempting to smash a 75-year drought by becoming the first mare to win the Stradbroke since Capris in 1936.
Farley has always believed Sincero was the horse to put him on the map as a trainer but was in two minds whether to persevere with a Stradbroke start following the three-year-old’s QTC Cup failure.
Farley bumped into two people after the QTC Cup failure, Sydney’s Chris Waller and Peter Snowden, who both encouraged him to continue with his original plan to run in the Stradbroke.
“I owe Chris and Peter a lot for this,” Farley said.
“He’s a great horse and he had his knockers after last week’s loss.
“But this was always his grand final, not last week.”
Sincero was to be ridden by Glen Boss but he decided to remain in Singapore following the QTC Cup failure, leaving Gold Coast rider Jason Taylor to steer the son of Umatilla.
It was the second Group One win for Taylor who won the Brisbane Cup on Star Covet in 2001.
Farley knew he had a good buy when he outlaid $8000 for Sincero at the Inglis yearling sales.
“I trained his brother but this bloke is a freak,” Farley said.
“He’s got such a big stride you don’t think he’s going that fast.”
Farley gave only one instruction to Taylor before the race.
“I told Jason to stay off the fence and to have one shot at them in the straight,” Farley said.
Farley now plans to spell Sincero, who took his record to nine wins from 13 starts, before aiming for the Melbourne spring.
“I’m going to get him ready for the Cox Plate and the Caulfield Cup,” he said.
“He’ll run 2400 metres on his ear.”
Taylor, 39, has been a successful lightweight jockey in Queensland since his apprentice days and thoroughly deserved his moment in the sun.
“This is the best feeling ever,” Taylor said.
“To win a Group One is massive but to do it in your home state and in front of family and friends is unbelievable.”
Despite Beaded’s defeat, Snowden took come comfort from the advice he gave Farley.
“I hate losing but it was a super run from Beaded and a gun ride,” he said.
“I was very confident at the 200 metres until Sincero came at us.
“When Steve came to me after the QTC Cup last week he wasn’t sure what to do about the Stradbroke.
“I remember seeing him at Gosford one day and he told me he thought Sincero could be the horse to take him places.
“I told him to back his own judgment. One bad run doesn’t spoil a preparation and I’ve got no regrets telling him that.”
AAP TURF
