Bargain buy Sirvino proves worth at York (From The Northern Echo)

Bargain buy Sirvino proves worth at York (From The Northern Echo):

"SIRVINO completed his rags-to-riches story by taking his unbeaten record this season to five in the 50th John Smith’s Cup at York.


Thirsk trainer David Barron paid just £3,000 for the horse as a yearling at Newmarket and the gelding has now won £120,000 in prizemoney for property developers Theo Williams and Charles Mocatta.

Giving 3lb claimer Neil Brown his biggest success, the 16-1 shot foiled the gallant attempt by Ryan Moore on The Queen’s runner Kingdom Of Fife to make all the running in this valuable heritage handicap.

Joining the leader two furlongs out, Sirvino forged clear to win by two and three-quarter lengths. Albaqaa finished strongly for third, two and a half lengths away, with Seeking The Buck fourth.

‘‘I thought he was a nice horse but I never thought we would be here today at the start of the season,’’ said Barron. ‘‘He is a nice horse and has a good attitude. I’m getting older now and I like these types ‘‘You are dreaming all the time but when you get slot 16 you think, ‘oh dear here we go’, but Neil’s a good lad. ‘‘I left it entirely to him and not to push forward too soon and to get to rail as soon as you can after the bend. ‘‘I’ve never won this race before and have only had a couple of runners.’’ Hawick-born Brown, 23, said: ‘‘With every run he’s got better and better – he’s so straightforward. ‘‘I was a further back than I would have liked but I managed to get a run up the rails.

‘‘I thought he (runner-up Kingdom Of Fife) might get going again, but my lad kept battling.’’ Moore also had to settle for second place with similar tactics on Warringah in the John Smith’s Extra Smooth Silver Cup Stakes.

It was a close call, with Hits Only Vic (16-1) getting up by a short head and Magicalmysterytour another nose away in third.

Declan Carroll, celebrating his first Listed triumph, will consider bringing the fiveyear- old back to York for the Ebor.