Man From Uncle claims Hobartville Stakes
Man From Uncle has continued to fast-track his autumn carnival prospects with a last-stride win in the Hobartville Stakes.
Making it two wins from as many starts since his resumption, Man From Uncle ($5) needed every inch of the Rosehill straight to beat Echo Effect ($7.50) in the $400,000 race.
In edging out Echo Effect by a nose to complement his Eskimo Prince Stakes win, Man From Uncle surpassed trainer Anthony Cummings’s early carnival expectations.
“I thought his first two races this time in would be the hardest for him,” Cummings said.
“He’s been trained to be at his best for the two Guineas races and I’m hoping that’s the case.”
Man From Uncle sat behind Echo Effect but conceded a two-length advantage into the straight.
And while jockey Jason Collett was looking for dangers running on out wide, Echo Effect travelled strongly.
“When nothing was coming from behind I thought I had better concentrate on the leader,” Collett said.
“Being a gelding he needs a bit of encouragement and it took two hits behind the saddle for him to know what he had to do.”
Man From Uncle will be one of the favourites for the Group One Randwick Guineas on March 4 before the three-year-old is given a distance test in the Rosehill Guineas.
On what Collett experienced in the Hobartville, he is confident Man From Uncle will hold his form as he stretches out further in journey.
“He was off the bridle chasing today and this is exactly what you want getting up in trip,” Collett said.
The Chris Waller-trained Comin’ Through started the $3.80 favourite and he is on target for the Randwick Guineas despite finishing three-quarters of a length away third.
But Cummings is confident it is going to take a good horse to beat Man From Uncle.
“We were confident today because he had the hardest run in the race in the Eskimo Prince and did the best job,” Cummings said.
“And we’ll be confident again heading to the Randwick Guineas.”