Cigar Flick Hunting Elusive Black Type Win

With four wins and over $450,000 in earnings, the C J Waller-trained Cigar Flick (Churchill-Palmateer, by Fastnet Rock) is yet to record a black type victory for the Ingham family, but come Saturday she looks an outstanding chance in the Listed How Now Stakes at Eagle Farm. Having barrier trialled back in October at the Gold Coast, the 4YO mare then started first up at Flemington in the Gr3 Begonia Belle Stakes where she finished a credible fourth, before less than two lengths from the winner in the Gr3 How Now Stakes when finishing fifth. Although Saturday's race appears considerably easier on paper, it is interesting to note that the Matthew Dale-trained Danny's St Darci (All Too Hard-Darcibelle, by Darci Brahma) who is co-top weight on Saturday, is also coming through those same two races and will surely be hard to beat here. Having just her third start last Saturday in the Listed Mode Plate against her own age group, 3YO filly Socrazyinlove (I Am Invincible-Special Lover, by Pins) has accepted to back up here. Coming a long way in a short amount of time, the Annabel Neasham and Rob Archibald-trained filly started her career with a win at Orange before finished third at Wyong, followed by jumping in the deep end and finishing an encouraging fourth in the Mode Plate. Racing for a syndicate of ladies headed by the TFI Diamonds, it would not surprise to see the $1.1m Inglis Premier yearling sale graduate produce another forward showing.

Cigar Flick is yet to win a stakes race (pic: Steve Hart)