LINES SINCERELY BELIEVES IN KL

Australian trainer busy at sales, catching positive wave sweeping Selangor Turf Club

- Michael Lee

On his return from a Gold Coast sale last week, Kuala Lumpur trainer Richard Lines was right away greeted to a pleasant surprise from his galloper Sincerely on Oct 26.

The 11-time Malaysian champion trainer said he had not expected the French-bred eight-year-old to come out tops first-up off a seven-week break in the RM50,000 (S$15,200) Metro A (1,200m) race at Sungai Besi.

But, the way he stormed home down the outside to lower the colours of the hitherto unbeaten Witnessimpact and score easing down by 2½ lengths told the Australian handler he was doing something right, even when giving day-to-day remote instructions in the lead-up while he was on the Gold Coast.

"It was quite a competitive race and he was off a little while. It was his first run back from a break," said Lines.

"We were hopeful of a good run, but certainly didn't expect him to win the way he did. He's quite a handy horse, but probably just a little below the best here.

"The fast early pace definitely played into his hands and (Laercio) de Souza had him in a perfect position."

Witnessimpact was all set to extend his unbeaten run when he came off his third spot in transit to collar race-leader Violet (Uzair Sharudin) upon straightening.