Sibaaq back and ready for the Winter Challenge
The Winter Challenge will be a campaign starting point for Sibaaq, but Annabel Neasham is looking for a bold performance as the import bids to reignite his career after a lacklustre autumn.
Placed in the Five Diamonds Prelude and the Big Dance last spring, Sibaaq just missed out on a $2 million payday when a narrow second to Ellsberg in the Five Diamonds in November.
Neasham was hoping for more of the same after the gelding returned with a solid fourth to Think About It in the Liverpool City Cup at Randwick in February, but Sibaaq’s subsequent form tapered off.
“He had a really good spring. He didn’t actually win a race, but he won about $800,000 just by placing in those Five Diamond Preludes and the Big Dance,” Neasham said on Sky Racing radio.
“He ran really well in the Liverpool City Cup and then was disappointing second up.
“He just hadn’t quite come up so we tipped him out and we started again.
“He may need the run on Saturday but that being said, looking at the nominations I think he’ll be really competitive and he does run well fresh.
“I’ll be disappointed if he isn’t fighting out the finish.”
Sibaaq has drawn barrier six in Saturday’s Listed Winter Challenge (1500m) at Rosehill, the final stakes race of the Sydney season.
Group 3 winner Sweet Ride will jump from gate seven for Neasham in the July Sprint (1100m), returning to Sydney after resuming with a closing fourth in the Sir John Monash Stakes (1100m) at Caulfield on July 8.
He captured the San Domenico Stakes over Saturday’s course and distance and Neasham expected him to strip fitter for his first-up run.
“He’s had a wind op and come back much better for it,” she said.
“That was a terrific run at Caulfield, he came very wide around the turn and wasn’t beaten far.
“Second up he’ll only be improved for having one run under his belt.”
The pair will be among four Rosehill runners for Neasham, along with last start winners Token Capitalist in the TAB Handicap (1500m) and Manbehindthemoney, who extends to 2400m for the first time in the Kia Ora Prague Handicap.
More Racing News
Thrilling Scone Cup success for in-form Hellsing
Trained by Annabel and Rob Archibald, Hellsing has entered excellent shape and notched his finest victory yet in the Listed $200,000 Arrowfield Scone Cup (1600m) held at Scone on Friday.On his 10th run in a preparation exceeding six months, Hellsing is thriving more than ever, building on a Royal Randwick...
Trainer Moloney sees ongoing enhancement in Hearcomesthestar
Improvement has marked every preparation, and John Moloney, the trainer, expects additional development from Hearcomesthestar in her upcoming appearance at Flemington.From 28 races, Hearcomesthestar has notched six wins and eight places, but Stakes grade has proven challenging for her.The approaching six-year-old earned a Listed placing at Geelong earlier this year,...
Searle family from SA chasing Melbourne Cup dream with Sir Kingsford
Gary and Nichole Searle, together with their daughter Brianna Callanan, form a South Australian training outfit with ambitions for Sir Kingsford in the Melbourne Cup.A victory in Saturday's Listed Andrew Ramsden (3200m) at Flemington earns the winner a Melbourne Cup ballot exemption ahead of the big November event.Nichole Searle sampled...
Scone's Luskin Star Stakes sees Estadio Mestalla with tough weight
Trainer Joe Pride questions the two-kilo advantage given to a Group 1 winner over Estadio Mestalla in the Luskin Star Stakes, but trusts the steady gelding to deliver full commitment.At seven years old, he notched his top triumph in the prior year's Listed Winter Stakes (1100m) and must shoulder 61kg...
Barrier 18 no hindrance to Sequista's Scone return
Trainers Gerald Ryan and Sterling Alexiou believe filly Sequista has the class for black-type success despite her tendency to undermine herself.Having notched stakes placings in the 2024 Inglis Nursery (1000m) and run near the placings in Tempted's Percy Sykes Stakes (1200m), the three-year-old targets another milestone in Saturday's Listed Denise's...
Flemington awaits Concord Connie's next bold move
Trainer Charlotte Littlefield hopes her talented filly Concord Connie can replicate her recent feat before entertaining grander aspirations.In her third race appearance at Flemington on Anzac Day, Concord Connie notched a breathtaking win by six lengths in sharp time.This Saturday, the filly heads back to Flemington to compete against the...
Dark Jewel Classic in sights for Harlem Queen
While Harlem Queen didn't sustain her early promise from age three, trainer Nathan Doyle feels confident after her trouble-free lead-up that she might restore reliable results.She returns Saturday in the Dark Jewel Classic (1400m) held at Scone, where despite preferring stamina tests ahead, barrier five positions her well for Doyle's...
Flemington run to decide Different Gravy's Queensland Derby chances
At Flemington, Different Gravy will put his Queensland Derby dreams to the test in upcoming action.Following a Listed triumph over 1800m at Flemington on Melbourne Cup Day last year, trainer Henry Dwyer fixed his focus on the northern Derby.The Group 1 Queensland Derby (2400m) at Eagle Farm scheduled for May...
Abounding's scratch lets Napoleonic into Doomben 10,000 lineup
Confirmation has arrived that Napoleonic will join the Doomben 10,000 field, following Abounding's removal which opened the door for the colt in the elite Group 1 dash.Team members experienced a stressful seven days after the three-year-old earned second emergency status for the $1.5 million event, as reserve Beadman claimed a...
Snowden's stable loaded with top sprinters for feature clashes
Boasting a stable full of high-caliber sprinters primed for black-type action, trainer Peter Snowden enjoys the luxury of picking and choosing among several prestigious races.Just a couple of weeks earlier, Zealously claimed victory in the Hawkesbury Gold Rush (1100m), followed by King Of Roseau and Beadman grabbing interstate stakes wins...