Cindy’s Boy a ‘Luckie’ charm

[Wandering Eyes]

Giant youngster Cindy’s Boy was following a proud family tradition when he set Sandown Park alight at his 515m debut last Sunday afternoon.

As his name eludes, Cindy’s Boy, which is trained by Tony Tufo, is a son of Barcia Bale and Smokin’ Cindy, a litter sister to 2020 Melbourne Cup hero Hard Style Rico.

Cindy’s Boy ($2.60F) came into Sunday afternoon’s Sandown assignment off a slick 25.67sec maiden victory at Geelong and after staging a mid-race duel for supremacy with fancied rival Shadow Riot ($2.80), he broke clear in 29.49sec.

It was Cindy’s Boy’s second win from four starts (with two minor placings) and after moving from Box 6 to Box 1 for Thursday night’s $12,000 to-the-winner Vic Bred Final – Race 1 at 6.58pm – Sportsbet has installed him as a prohibitive $1.30 favourite.

WATCH: Regally related youngster CINDY’S BOY (B6) continued the impressive start to his career at Sandown Park last Sunday, defeating SHADOW RIOT (B7) in a slick 29.49sec at his 515m debut.

“He went super on Sunday,” Tony Tufo said.

“That was his first ‘500’ and he went to Sandown sight unseen.

“At his previous start I took him to Geelong, and he went 25.67sec, straight off the bat too, and that was only his third start.

“He’s drawn ‘the red’ for the final and I think he can get down to 29.30sec.”

Tufo purchased Cindy’s Boy’s mother Smokin’ Cindy at three months of age off long-time friend Luckie Karabitsakos, and the early signs were just as promising as her illustrious sibling Hard Style Rico.

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“When we broke them in, Smokin’ Cindy wasn’t too far behind Hard Style Rico,” Tufo explained.

“She had a motor, but she had a fall at The Meadows at her second start and wasn’t quite as good after that.

“But she won her maiden in a Vic Breeders at Warragul, beating Manila Knight (2020 G1 Bold Trease winner) and Catch The Chief (multiple Group winner and four-time G1 finalist) in the final. She also made the Horsham Cup final (2020).

“There were seven in the Barcia Bale litter, and I kept four – two boys and two girls. The girls are a little bit behind, but the other dog, Son Of Cindy, won his first start at Healesville in 19.26sec.

“At their first look at Healesville, Cindy’s Boy and Son Of Cindy both ran 19.30sec. Son Of Cindy is still a little bit green and a bit erratic. They’re just big babies – Cindy’s Boy is nearly 39 kilograms!”

Watching on proudly at Sandown was Luckie Karabitsakos, who bred Hard Style Rico and guided the son of Bella Infrared and Bella Rico to a record-breaking 28.91sec victory in the Melbourne Cup Final.

“I’m just as ecstatic as Tony!” said Karabitsakos.

“That cross with Barcia Bale to my line is really strong, and it’s a great sign the cross with Hard Style Rico and Barcia Bale bitches will be potent too.”

Luckie’s line was also prominent in Sunday’s Ipswich Auction with the second highest-priced lot being a pup by Shima Shine out of another litter sister to Hard Style Rico in Ricolina Girl.

Ricolina Girl also has a litter to Barcia Bale showing promising signs, including Bonnie Rico, which is unbeaten in two starts at Ipswich.

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