Racing: Third again, but Kiwi mare's star on the rise

SYDNEY - Watch out for Starina next year, says trainer Kerry Verner after the New Zealand mare finished third in the $A800,000 ($1 million) Sydney Cup (3200m) at Randwick on Saturday.

Following her same placing in the Wellington Cup over the same distance in January, Saturday's group one result confirmed the Sir Tristram horse was genuine 3200m talent.

Auckland trainer Kerry Verner said he would probably target Starina at this year's Melbourne spring carnival and a likely tilt at the Melbourne Cup, but added Starina's best would not probably be seen until next year.

"I think she's a better proposition back here in 12 months' time," Verner said.

"She's only a four-year-old racing against older horses and she can only get stronger. She's come through this race particularly well."

Verner said a spell was now on the cards for Starina after he had initially considering staying for races in Brisbane or Adelaide. "If we didn't come here we were possibly going to go to Adelaide but that's definitely out of the question.

"I suppose we now have to consider Melbourne in the spring but we'll leave that decision until later."

Starina's Wellington Cup placing confirmed the horse's potential as a stayer and Saturday's effort, when ridden by last year's Melbourne Cup winning jockey Kerrin McEvoy, was further evidence a major cup race was clearly in her sights.

"We're absolutely delighted because this result proves she is an out-and-out stayer," Verner said.

"She was beautifully ridden, she had every show and we were thrilled with the result. But it's all a year too early for her. We felt that was probably the case coming in."

Victory in the Sydney Cup went to Mr Prudent who provided veteran Australian trainer George Hanlon with his second win in the race.

Mr Prudent won by a neck from Prophet's Kiss, with three-quarters of a length back to Starina.

Hanlon, 84, won the race with Dark Suit in 1972. A renowned trainer of stayers for 50 years, Hanlon had not raced Mr Prudent beyond 2000m this preparation.

Other New Zealand entries Giovana, Our Unicorn and Uncle finished fifth, sixth and seventh.

Giovana, who was the favourite, simply failed to cope with the distance, according to rider Glen Boss.

"She gave me the best ride in the world," Boss said.

"At the 600m I felt confident she would win but at the end of the day she never stayed the two miles."

Giovana's trainer, Roger James of Matamata, agreed the distance found out Giovana and said the horse would now have a rest from racing.

"She'll go to the paddock. She was ridden a delight by Glen (Boss) but she showed she doesn't want to run two miles."

- NZPA