Stephen Farley is adamant Sincero has improved since his stunning first-up win but questions how much better he needs to be in Saturday’s Underwood Stakes.
Sincero scored a convincing Memsie Stakes victory three weeks ago and is one of the favourites for the Group One Underwood (1800m) at Caulfield where he will meet proven weight-for-age stars Manighar and Southern Speed.
“He looks magnificent,” Farley said.
“His coat has come on nicely. To say how much he’s improved is probably hard to say because his win was sensational the other day.
“He probably doesn’t have to improve much more, does he?”
Trainer Peter Moody fired an ominous warning earlier this week saying Manighar appeared to have stepped up again from his autumn form, highlighted by his nose second to Southern Speed first-up in the Makybe Diva Stakes.
But that hasn’t dented Farley’s enthusiasm with Cox Plate-bound Sincero who he believes has also improved out of sight.
What has dulled the trainer’s enthusiasm slightly is Sincero’s barrier draw.
He will jump from gate 12 in the field of 14 with other leading chances Manighar (barrier 10), Southern Speed (11) and December Draw (13) also drawing wide.
“It was disappointing at first, but it’s probably better than having him draw barrier one or two where he would get bottled up on the fence,” Farley said.
“I’d rather him with a little bit of galloping room, especially if they are going to race tight.
“On Saturday, there doesn’t appear to be a lot of speed to me, and it looks like they might race a bit bunched up.”
Manighar was installed the $3.40 favourite with TAB fixed odds ahead of Sincero at $5 with Southern Speed $5.50 and New Zealander Ocean Park $6.50.
Farley rates Manighar as the hardest to beat, along with Southern Speed and Ocean Park, who has drawn well in barrier five.
Sincero is on the Cox Plate trail and while he has yet to win beyond 1600m, Farley is confident 1800 metres and 2000 metres will be well within the gelding’s threshold.
He was also buoyed by last weekend’s Group Two Dato Tan Chin Nam Stakes (1600m) result with the first three across the line finishing behind Sincero in the Memsie.
“I know how good the horse is but he’s made other people sit up and take notice with what he did the other day,” Farley said.
“Especially with the form coming out of the Dato and seeing what he had done to them the start before.
“When he’s right, he’s electrifying.”
AA
