Flemington winner, Cindy Falls will play in her own backyard on Saturday after trainers Lee and Shannon Hope erred on a trip to Sydney and an earlier-than-ideal stakes bid. The father-son trainers entered the imported mare for the Listed Winter Challenge at Rosehill but the strength of the race and extra travel made Flemington a better option this week.
“She has come from New Zealand and done really well, but the actual race in Sydney has come up stronger than we anticipated”, co-trainer Shannon Hope said “We will stay home and play in our own backyard and go from there”
Apprentice jockey Hannah Edgley is booked to ride Cindy Falls in the RMBL Investments Rising Stars Final (1600m) on Saturday from barrier four.
“You would’ve thought there’d be good speed, there always seems to be in these types of races for apprentices but when you say that the opposite happens” said Hope
Cindy Falls was ridden cold and attacked the line with gusto last start at Flemington to claim the Leilani Series Final (1400m).
“I’ve got to be totally honest, we were very happy going into it but became worried about the bad barrier and track drying out. You do your head in worrying about it……a few things can make you look stupid in life and horses certainly can”
Cindy Falls recorded the fastest last 800m, 600m and 400m sectionals last start, while her last 200m was third fastest on the card.
The versatile five-year-old mare raced on speed the start prior at Sandown and stuck on well for third in a 1600m BM74 behind Arquana and Binding, who she meets again on Saturday.
“She’s earned $100,000.00 in two starts, the trainer who had her beforehand gave us a great insight to her, Jon Miller….there’s a lot of options for her going forward and hopefully she will add to the kitty on Saturday” , Hope said
The team has medium to high long range stakes targets for the promising daughter of Sacred Falls.
“You’d hope to look at something like the Matriarch Stakes long term, how good she is we don’t really know. She is honest, a great little mare to do anything with and the main goal is to get black type” Hope stated
The rise of Cindy Falls has arrived at the ideal time for the Hope stable, which resumed operation in 2022 after colbalt disqualifications.
“It’s taken a fair bit of hard work to rebuild and thats what we are doing. We’ve got a lot of good support and loyal owners who have waited for our return. At the moment Cindy Falls is certainly our flag bearer along with old Big Brew, he’s eight, been the star of the stable for a long time, he keeps earning and running honest races. We have several nice young horses in the stable that have been educated and showing promise so hopefully they will be a force for the stable later on.
Racenet