Stakes Success for Yulong Import Sikandarabad

Mark Smith - Saturday February 23

Yu Long Investments Irish import Sikandarabad (IRL) opened his stakes account in a slogging finish to Saturday's Listed Mornington Cup Prelude (2000m) at Caulfield.

Coming off a second to Avilius (GB) in the Group III TS Carlyon Cup over 1600m at Caulfield, Sikandarabad (IRL) raced up on the speed under Jordon Childs and proved a half-neck too good for Call Me Handsome (IRE) (Kodiac) with Midterm (GB) (Galileo) a long-neck back in third. (images Grant Courtney).

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Second in a 6-furlong 2yo maiden at the Curragh when making his career debut for owner-breeder The Aga Khan and trainer Dermot Weld in June 2015, Sikandarabad (IRL) was off the scene for 404 days before making a successful resumption in a maiden at Galway in July 2016. He placed in two of his next five starts before being sold to continue his career in Australia for the Lindsay Park team.

The son of former Widden Stud shuttler Dr Fong won consecutive races at Sandown and Flemington and at his first taste of stakes class was beaten narrowly into third place in the Group 1 The Metropolitan at Randwick on September 9 last year.

"I think he is an Australia Cup horse," co-trainer David Hayes said.

"Jordy improvised when he flew the start. The tactic was to ride him with cover and come late. He won the race but I think he was ridden totally out of character without cover. He will improve a lot out of this. Despite the tactics, he still won.

"He is a good honest horse. He's been a terrific horse for the stable and so has Yulong, they are great supporters of racing worldwide and good to see them getting success."

A half-brother to the Group III Curragh Anglesey Stakes winner Marie's Diamond (Footstepsinthesand), Sikandarabad (IRL) is out of the winning Kalanisi mare Sindiyma who is a sister to Lingfield Oaks winner Sindirana.

Sikandarabad (IRL) becomes the 36^th stakes-winner for Dr Fong (Kris S) who shuttled to Widden for three seasons (2000-2002)

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