KUALA LUMPUR:  May 14, 2023

It was Mother’s Day, and the appropriately-named SINCERELY came to the fore in the main event of the afternoon, the Supreme B event over 1200m, at Sungei Besi here today. 

It was a superb comeback win for the French gelding by Evasive who missed action for the whole of last year after winning two races at Kranji in 2020 and 2021.

The gelding had arrived in Singapore with big hopes for his owners in the big races. He won three races and was placed thrice in just seven starts in France, winning the listed Prix Millkom at Toulouse and was also placed in another listed race at three.

SINCERELY won first-up in Class 3 in Singapore and had another win in Class 2. He also ran third behind SUPER DYNASTY in the Group 3 Colonial Chief Stakes in 2020.

The six-year-old has been knocking on the door since making his comeback this year with some creditable runs, finishing third to STREETS OF FIRE in a similar race over 1400m last month.

Ridden by apprentice Winston Cheah Wei Wen, SINCERELY jumped brilliantly from his wide carrier and led on settling down. However, GOLDEN SARDINE headed him at the half-way mark and led into the straight with VULCAN for company.

SINCERELY was just next third on the rails. Joint favourite KONG FU PANDA also loomed into the picture to make it four in a line.

SINCERELY looked beaten at the 200m when he fell behind the other three. But with a few cracks of the whip by Winston, the gelding responded and began to regain ground rapidly. He hit the front again 80m out and went on to beat KONG FU PANDA by half a length. WATCH THE THRONE flashed home on the outside rails to finish third.

It was the fourth win of the afternoon for Winston.

“It was my first time riding four winners and I feel very proud and happy especially on Mother’s Day,” said Winston. “It made my mum very proud of me.”

“At the same time I couldn’t help but wish our stable rider can recover as soon as possible and return to the saddle.”

Winston was referring to fellow stable apprentice Chong Kar Hoong who was seriously injured after his mount BLOOD ROYAL fell in a race here last Saturday.

(Khaw Choon Kit also fell on GUILTY PLEASURES in the same race. The following day, Laercia De Souza, a former apprentice of Lines, was also injured after a fall on COSMIC SANDS.)

On SINCERELY, he said: “At the 200m I didn’t think he could win because a felt like he was stopping. I am glad he refused to be beaten.”

All his winners were trained by his master Richard Lines who also had a fifth winner in  KING OF GLORY, ridden by Saddam Hussein Saari who booted home five winners in Ipoh yesterday.

“It has been a trying week for the whole stable but thankfully all my riders are recovering well,” said Lines.

“SINCERELY did a good job from his wide barrier, aided by a good ride from Winston. Hopefully he will gain a run in the (Tunku Gold) Cup in a couple of weeks and run a good race for the owners.”

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