Altro Mondo delivers for Sykes
LOCAL trainer Matthew Sykes burst out of two years in racing’s wilderness with a bigodds winner at Geelong yesterday.
Sykes, who builds horse trucks in Moolap, last had a runner on July 24, 2015 before Altro Mondo saluted at $61 in the Geelong Homes Maiden Plate (1300m).
Altro Mondo was perfectly ridden in front by local apprentice Georgina Cartwright.
“Home track, unbelievable,” an elated Sykes said post-race. “I haven’t had a runner (in a long time). I’ve just had young horses and stuff like that.”
The four-year-old gelding, formerly raced under the David and Ben Hayes and Tom Dabernig banner, is owned by a group of local businessmen.
Sykes said he thought his galloper would run a good race at odds.
“I honestly thought he’d go well. But I thought there was a couple of up-and-comers, Danny O’Briens’ nominated for the guineas, they could be good horses,” he said.
“It’s been about a 10-week program with the horse.
“They had him at David Hayes’ and he wasn’t sort of meeting their requirements and they’ve been (kind enough) to give him to me.
“I’ve been working him, pony clubbing him and beaching him. Put a tongue tie on him and he’s delivered.”
Cartwright started her career as a quaddie killer, riding several big-odds winners early on.
That reputation has resumed with the apprentice guiding Dragon Artist ($81) to victory at Geelong last month.
Cartwright said Altro Mondo’s win was the perfect reward for Sykes’s hard work.
“I’ve been riding this horse in a little bit of work, trialled him,” Cartwright said.
“I wanted to be positive today. He had to a bit of work to get there, which was a bit of a worry first up, but he was really strong to the finish.
“It was a good first-up effort.”