Bennett Racing import Sibaaq GB brought up a memorable victory when winning at Eagle Farm on Saturday. This win was 3 ½ years in the making at Sibaaq’s 30th start since that Wellington Cup win at Dubbo. He had earned close to $1.1m in the meantime and placed 2nd or 3rd 12 times including The Big Dance, Five Diamonds, 4 x Stakes Races and 2nd in Track Record Time.
The 8yo gelding was transferred to Declan Maher, who has recently relocated to the Gold Coast, in the hope a change of scenery may rejuvenate the import. First up for Declan, Sibaaq seemed to get it all wrong at the Sunshine Coast and Michael Rodd eased the gelding out of the race in the straight.
A very good run in the Listed Tails Stks some 3 weeks later when leading until the 100m had Declan thinking to back up the horse in Saturday’s race and out to 1800m. He had backed up previously when placed in the Big Dance on Cup Day then 4 days later in the Five Diamonds.
Sibaaq looked the leader on paper but Declan was wary of the horses near the fence being run over in the straight. Apprentice Jasper Franklin came out neutral on Sibaaq but was handed the lead after clearing the field and thereafter Jasper looked to give him an easy time in front. From the 1400m to 1000m he went 12.44s/12.69s – that 400m in 25.13s which was comfortable for Sibaaq. He started rolling inside the last 1000m running the last 5 sections in 12.16s/11.64s/11.29s/11,28s/12.06s – the last 1000m in 58.43s with the 1000-800m and 200m-finish the quickest of the field. Galifinakis and Felix the Scat really put it to Sibaaq at the 300m and looked to go on by. Walsh Bay, going for 7 on the trot, had endured a wide run but loomed strongly inside the last 200m. Sibaaq dug deep and not only fought them off he drew away on the line and was strongest through the line.
Not only did Jasper rate Sibaaq beautifully, he played the track to an absolute tee – noticing from the 600m he allowed Sibaaq to drift away from the fence – this was a winning move. The rails to 3 horses off was significantly inferior in the straight so at the 600m he went from 2m to 3.4m off then to 6.2m off at the 400m and 5.7m off the rail the last 200m – brilliant.
Sibaaq has been a wonderful horse for connections and Bennett Racing and so thrilled that he has finally won that elusive 2nd race – his 1st Metro win in Australia. Declan Maher and his team who have worked tirelessly to get this horse back to his best. The win took Sibaaq overall career to 45 starts – 6:11:8 Prizemoney: $1,203,113.
Sibaaq was purchased at the 2021 Tattersalls Horses In Training Sale for 75000gns ( approx 150k aud) and is a son of Leading European Sire Dark Angel. He is a ½ brother to Gr3 winner The Happy Prince and Listed winner Ziegfeld who has also made his way down under lacing in the ATC Winter Challenge H., Listed & MRC Heatherlie S., Listed. Bennett Racing also purchased Sibaaqs ½ sister by Ten Sovereigns at the Tattersalls Yearling Sales and imported the filly into Australia. Racing in Australia as Blightys Hoe after a couple of runs this filly recently resumed also for Declan Maher with an encouraging run 1st up beaten by only 3 Lens.
Congratulations to all of Siibaaqs owners, many who have enjoyed some great racing from the import, and a big thankyou to Declan Maher, Tylah and the Team for all the hard work that has gone into the gelding to get this win.