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Lindop poised to win at Sandown

Friday 20 November 2009
By Mark Ryan

Clare Lindop says her mount Poised To Win is flying and gives her the chance to win the final Group race of the spring in Melbourne in Saturday's Eclipse Stakes at Sandown.

The seven-year-old, prepared by Terry And Karina O'Sullivan at Stawell, goes into the Eclipse as one of three last-start winners in the Group Three 1800m feature.

The More Than Ready gelding was ridden by Hugh Bowman when he broke a run of 16 outs by scoring over 1600m at Flemington on the final day of the Melbourne Cup carnival, beating Lucky Thunder and Eclipse rival Playwright.

He hadn't won since scoring successive victories over 1800m at Flemington and in the Colac Cup (2000m) in February 2008.

Lindop missed the ride last start as she had commitments at Morphettville the same day but was pleased to be back aboard on Saturday.

Poised To Win, who has won eight races and been placed on 14 occasions, will be having his 50th start on Saturday.

"This is obviously a harder race but he's flying and I think it's worth having a shot at it," Lindop said.

Lindop combined with the O'Sullivans to win the Ararat Cup with Last Drop earlier this month, while her biggest success with the stable was aboard Dolphin Jo in the Group Two Herbert Power Hcp (2400m) at Caulfield during the spring of 2008.

Lindop rode Dolphin Jo into fifth place to Efficient in the 2007 Melbourne Cup.

Like Poised To Win, Dolphin Jo is a seven-year-old but he hasn't raced since finishing 15th to All The Good in the 2008 Caulfield Cup (2400m) with Lindop in the saddle.

He injured a suspensory in that race but is on the comeback trail and may resume late next month.

The other last-start winners in the 16-horse Eclipse field are the Lee Freedman-trained Dane Julia, who is backing up following her win over Eclipse rival Rose Syrah in the Summoned Stakes (1500m) at Sandown last Saturday, and the Peter Snowden-trained Offenders who has been freshened up since his win in the Sale Cup (1600m) on October 25.

Freedman is happy to be backing up South African six-year-old mare Dane Julia after she won at her only start at Sandown last week.

"She seemed to love the course and I'm not a fan of turning a mare out when they're in form so we'll throw the hat in the ring tomorrow," he said.

A Group One winner in South Africa and New Zealand, Dane Julia steps up 300m in distance but that shouldn't be a worry as she has won twice from three tries at the trip.

Rose Syrah, drawn nicely in barrier three and with Danny Nikolic in the saddle, is $4 favourite ahead of Kerrin McEvoy's mount Offenders ($5.50), who has drawn awkwardly in barrier 14, with Rhyno Chaser at $8 and Dane Julia at $8.50.

Poised To Win is at $12.