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Quality group performer Sincero returned to racing in great heart last Saturday with an emphatic victory in the G2 Memsie Stakes over 1400m at Caulfield.

One of the early spring weight for age contests, the Memsie Stakes has been won by some of Australia’s best gallopers, counting amongst it winners So You Think (2010), Weekend Hussler (2008), Makybe Diva (2005), Sunline (2000/01), Dane Ripper (1998), Naturalism (1992), Rubiton (1987) and Manikato (1982).

The Memsie Stakes has been used as the campaign starting point not only for winners of past Caulfield and Melbourne Cups but also for the Cox Plate.

In the last 20 years a combined 14 winners of the “big three” have used the Memsie as a launch pad for successful spring campaigns.

Viewed (2009) was the last Caulfield Cup winner to use the Memsie Stakes as part of his lead up campaign while So You Think won the Memsie Stakes – Cox Plate double in 2010 and popular stayer Efficient commenced his successful 2007 Melbourne Cup bid in that year’s Memsie Stakes.

Resuming from a spell, Sincero had not raced since finishing fourth in the G1 Doncaster Handicap at Randwick over 1600m behind the champion mare More Joyous, a form line that is sure to gain prominence this spring.

The son of Umatilla faced a handy line up of local and imported gallopers but after receiving a cosy run on the back of the speed during the early stages of the race, his acceleration once balanced up in the straight was the eye catching part of the win.

Rider Michael Rodd stated he was a little concerned approaching the home turn, but once he balanced up and got into the clear Sincero lengthened stride to put the race in safe keeping.

In assessing the merit of the performance, an analysis of pre race rating profiles together with the historical race profile clearly pointed to a Timeform rating of 125 for Sincero.

This is a rise of a pound above Sincero’s previous best rating but perfectly consistent with the five year winning Timeform value for the race of 125 and below the midpoint of the possible range of values.

With further improvement to come, the win by Sincero sets him up for an excellent spring with his ultimate goal the Cox Plate.

Sincero’s CV boasts a G1 win in two of the three eastern Australian states having already taken the Stradbroke Handicap in Brisbane and the George Main Stakes in Sydney. A G1 success in Melbourne is surely not far away.

The Doncaster Handicap form also held up through Happy Trials who ran a much improved race to finish second behind Sincero improving his Timeform rating to 119.

Happy Trails was considered unlucky by some when a fast finishing sixth behind More Joyous in the Doncaster after turning for home in 18th position.

He was second up here after a “soft kill” in Adelaide and was ridden with more purpose early.

Further improvement would not surprise.

Third placegetter Second Effort ran to his G2 P B Lawrence Stakes effort at this start prior confirming his 115 figure.

The eye catching effort came from stayer Green Moon who pre race it was announced would be ridden more quietly.

Green Moon made up many lengths from near last on the home turn to take fifth placing just under five lengths from the winner.

It was his first start since a comprehensive win in the G2 Blamey Stakes over 1600m at Flemington in the Autumn and yet again signals this galloper as one to watch in coming starts.

The former imported stayer has continued to thrive in Australia and apart from his impressive Blamey win, it should be remembered he has already won a G3 Newcastle Cup and finished second in the G1 Caulfield Cup last spring.

Even his early form in the UK now looks extremely strong as he holds a win over this year’s Dubai World Cup winner Monterosso.

Italian imported stayer Voila Ici was another to impress as was Maluckyday.

Voila Ici had never started at a distance shorter than 1800m in his whole career previously, so against that background his battling sixth beaten just over five lengths was full of merit.

Voila Ici ran to a Timeform rating of 109+ in the Mensie against a master figure of 117 in Italy so there is still plenty to come from the handsome grey now under the care of Peter Moody.

On the other hand, Maluckyday has raced just five times since his courageous second in the 2010 Melbourne Cup when he split Americain and So You Think.

Since that run Maluckyday has been plagued with “issues” but if he can find that form this time in, then he would be a serious threat on the first Tuesday in November.

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