He doesn’t have “ol’ blue eyes,” nor a penchant for romantic song and dance, but the gelding with the Hollywood surname is ready to open his account second time of asking at Monday’s Lismore meeting.
The cleverly named Sinatra is set to tackle a moderate Maiden Plate over 1410m for leading Far North Coast trainer Matthew Dunn.
Trainer Matthew Dunn.Credit: Getty Images
A three-year-old by Group 1 winner Microphone out of the mare Show Affection, Sinatra returns to the course where he missed narrowly on debut as a heavily backed $1.90 favourite after covering plenty of ground for most of the race.
But three weeks on, before looks a very moderate field at set weights, all should be forgiven when Sinatra tackles the same trip from the softer inside draw.
Certainly, connections of Sinatra believe he can be fast-tracked into Saturday Highway company if he takes care of this field, and quickly goes on to conquer better grades.
He opened about $1.75 in early betting, well clear of nearest rival Casino mare So Sain ($5) and Queensland visitor Taravia at $6.
And it may well be up to the Dunn camp, who also saddle up well-fancied Warrior Bae ($2.80) in a Benchmark 58 Handicap over 1510m, to repel another strong raid from stables over the border.
In fact, South East Queensland trainers are likely to return home with the bulk of the Lismore prize money.
Leading the charge south is the Paul Shailer stable from the Gold Coast suburb of Bundall.
