If there was an award for the most improved horse in
training the 4-year-old Excites gelding Sistine Demon would be well in the
running.
If not for a narrow defeat in the Listed Kilmore Cup three
starts back, the Andrew Noblet trainee would have reeled off eight consecutive
wins the latter of which may well have been his most impressive, a 6-length
romp in Saturday's Group III Victoria
Handicap (1400m) at Caulfield.
"I looked at him this morning and I honestly thought it
was the best he has looked, he just continues to amaze me," Noblet said.
"I knew he was at his best. He did some terrific work
during the week and he just keeps improving."
"It's hard to say how far he'll go, he's such a genuine
horse who tries hard all the time and puts himself in the race every time
because he races on the pace." Noblet said.
On the go since October last year, Sistine Demon has earned a spell and will return in the spring although Noblet has not totally ruled out a trip to Brisbane this winter.
Winner of the Listed Super Saturday Stakes (1400m) at
Flemington at his previous start, Sistine Demon takes his overall record to 8 wins,
2 seconds and 2 thirds from 16 starts for earnings of $414,860.
A $150,000 purchase by his trainer from the Alwyn Park Stud
draft at the 2011 Magic Millions Perth Yearling sale, Sistine Demon is a half-brother
to Group II Edward Manifold Stakes winner Sistine Angel (Testa Rossa) who was
also purchased and trained by Noblett.
Also the dam of the promising Myboycharlie filly Artistic
Lass, Famous Painter has a yearling filly by Big Brown (USA) and a colt foal by
Testa Rossa. She was bred back to Lonhro last spring.