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The Grafton July Carnival, used as an early step up the ladder for dual Group One winner Sincero when he was a two-year-old, will be the winter target for his young stablemate Mr Smart.
Photo by Racing and Sports
Wyong trainer Stephen Farley, always keen to take a team to Grafton in July, revealed his carnival plans for Mr Smart after the three-year-old won a Class 2 event over 1600m at Kembla Grange on April 30.
Sincero was a visitor to Grafton as a two-year-old in 2010 for his fifth race start after two early wins at Wyong and Wagga.
He was unluckily beaten in the Inglis Plate, the feature juvenile race of the carnival, but his impressive second stamped him as a future big race winner.
Mr Smart, having only his fifth start when he recorded his second win at Kembla Grange, will have the $50,000 Tursa Grafton Guineas (160m) as his carnival target in July.
"He is a nice horse," Farley said of Mr Smart.
"He's grown into himself and looks the right type for the Grafton Guineas.
"He's progressive and looks to have a nice race in him."
Mr Smart, like Sincero, was a bargain yearling find by Farley, the trainer picking him up for only $2500 at the Inglis Scone Yearling Sale in 2011.
Sincero cost $8000 at the 2009 Inglis Classic Sale and is now the winner of more than $1.7 million.
"It's always good to be able to buy one nice and cheap and end up with one that can gallop," Farley said.
Farley has been a popular winner at past Grafton carnivals, a highlight being his 2011 South Grafton Cup win with Gazza Guru.
Another member of the Farley stable will also be looking to make an impact at this year's Grafton carnival.
Farley is now the master of talented apprentice Sean Guymer and he is set to ride the stable runners at this year's carnival.
Guymer, who rode Mr Smart at Kembla Grange, is in the last year of his apprenticeship.
He has ridden 136 winners including 19 in the city and is confident his recent link with Farley will be fruitful.
"I'm coming into the time when apprentices kick goals and hopefully I can keep going forward," Guymer said.
"It's a prime time to be aiming to win some good races."
Guymer shares Farley's opinion of Mr Smart.
"He's a nice improving type that will eventually get further. For now he's got a nice turn of foot and he can put them away quick," Guymer said.
