Lee Hope is excited to see what Cindy Falls can do throughout winter, after the Sacred Falls mare went to a new level in last Saturday’s Leilani Series Final at Flemington.
The lightly raced five-year-old ran in New Zealand for Trainer Jon Miller until late May, when owner Mark Brady decided to send her across the Tasman to join Hope and and training partner son Shannon.
She ran a game third over a mile in her local debut at Sandown, where she worked across to be handy mid-race and was only overrun in the final stages.
But last weekend’s effort was even better, with Cindy Falls going back to last for the drop to 1400 metres, before letting loose under Dean Yendall to claim Mat Ellerton’s Brazen Lady on the line, with the Group-performed Belle Savoir in third.
It was a win that showed a lot of potential as well as tactical versatility and Hope is keen to keep her racing through the winter months, with wet ground no issue based on her Kiwi form.
“It was a good effort the other day, we were pleased with her,” said Hope.
“We didn’t quite know if she could run like that, but she’s always got home nicely.
“(Settling last) was to do with the barrier, to be truthful. We drew the outside, we went back because it was dry … but she can race up there, she’s pretty versatile.
“She’s had three starts in New Zealand in the wet, all on the Heavy I think, so she can handle all conditions by the look of it.”
Black type is now on the agenda for the rising six-year-old, with half an eye on the earlier stages of the Spring Carnival.
A horse who arrived at the stable via a five-year-old ownership connection, Cindy Falls is proving a very handy addition to the Hope yard.
“If we could find a Listed race, just at the start of the carnival – something on the damp side would help with her pedigree,” Lee said.
“I’ve just got to check her rating, I’m not quite sure what they’ve given her yet.
“Years ago, a good trainer in New Zealand, Richard Otto, sent us a horse; Prima, he was a handy horse.
“Mark, who owns this one (Cindy Falls), was in that one … he always said he’d send us a horse and that’s what he’s done to us.”