SICARIO Photo by NSWHRC
EXCITING freshman Sicario is certainly living up to his price tag and reputation.
A $120,000 sales topper at last year’s New South Wales leg of the Australian Pacing Gold Sales, Sicario was purchased by Jean and Bill Feiss, who sent the youngster to New Zealand to be trained by Mark Purdon and Natalie Rasmussen.
Making a successful debut on the Shaky Isles a fortnight ago, Sicario was back in his state of original to capture a Ladbrokes APG race series heat at Menangle yesterday.
Naturally pleased with the son of Somebeachsomewhere, Purdon believes Sicario is capable of maintaining his perfect record during the balance of the rich futurity, which concludes with a $322,000 Final on April 29.
“He’s a pretty nice horse,” Purdon said. “He’s done everything we’ve asked of him with ease and he’s still on the way up.
“It was a nice run in his heat as he was never fully extended. He will definitely be better for the run and will improve again for the semi-finals.”
With Purdon holding the reins, Sicario was settled in the breeze from barrier eight before bursting to an eight-and-a-half metre win from Thisbeachrighthere, with Irish Grit a metre away third.
Covering the mile in a slick 1:53.8, the two-year-old’s time was 1.4 seconds quicker than Be Major Threat in the second heat.
Trained by Barry Purdon and driven by Darren Binskin, the son of Art Major accounted for Seeuinnashville and Drop The Hammer with a 56.1-second last half.
Although the slowest of the heat winners, Maximus Red impressed when leading throughout for trainer-driver Steve Turnbull.
Never fully extended, the son of American Ideal stopped the clock in 1:57.8.
Further north, Colt Thirty One completed a narrow triumph in his heat at Albion Park with trainer Grant Dixon holding the reins.
After working overtime in the ‘death seat’, the son of Mach Three grabbed the lead in the last stride, scoring by a neck from Ark Patrol, with Lucky Unlucky three metres away third.
Owned by Solid Earth, Colt Thirty One is unbeaten from two starts.
