Sinatra ready to put on a show in Lismore maiden

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.

He saddles up talented filly and hot favourite On Point Pixie in a Maiden Plate over 1210m, primed to break through after three runs this campaign in much deeper company at Eagle Farm and Doomben.

Then perhaps the most exciting galloper at the meeting returns for the Shailer camp in a BM 58 Handicap over 1110m for just her fourth start.

Loading

Leica Glove, a four-year-old daughter of Group 1 winner Super Seth, hasn’t started since failing in a Class 1 at Eagle Farm in March.

Before that, though, she had resumed in style with a dominant maiden win at Coffs Harbour as a long odds-on favourite.

Most Viewed in Sport

Loading