Yet another of the progressive Northern Hemisphere-bred arrivals in the Annabel Neasham stable at Warwick Farm is likely to jump favourite to win the Cup over 1700m after an impressive first-up run in Australia.
Sibaaq brings strong Northern Hemisphere form Down Under.Getty
Sibaaq,a striking four-year old son of champion Irish sprinter Dark Angel,hit the line powerfully in a Benchmark 78 at the Gold Coast in heavy ground three weeks back.
That was his first outing since a 90-rating win at Haydock in the UK in late September,at the time his fourth success from only 13 starts.
Earlier last year Sibaaq had gone off a $3.00 favourite in an even higher rating 95 race at Newmarket before running second,and then backed up three weeks later for a dominant 85 rating win at Beverley.
It’s hard to deny that sort of form,especially given what he did at the Gold Coast,and connections are banking on a Wellington Cup win pitch-forking him into a bigger city race.
But standing in his way is a likely three-prong team from the Waterhouse-Bott stable at Randwick,headed by ultra tough and well-travelled four-year-old Major Artie.
In fact,not often do you see a runner with such impressive metro form in two states suddenly lining up at little Wellington in central-western NSW.
But Major Artie couldn’t be going any better ahead of his fifth-up run. Three starts back he finished best from just off the speed to win a BM 70 at The Valley,then fought on OK just behind the place-getters in a BM 78-rater at Sandown before returning to the winner’s circle with a gutsy win at Eagle Farm over 1825m.
Despite a hefty 8kg weight rise for the drop in class,Major Artie is building a very nice record,so punters will have a rollercoaster ride working out which form lines will reign supreme.
Improving four-year-old So United and at longer odds seven-year-old Regal Stage complete the Waterhouse-Bott trio;while Wyong-based seven-year-old Casino Mondial is also expected to attract market support at each-way odds.
Tips supplied by Racing NSW.
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