Trainer Lee and Shannon Hope excited to get Cindy Falls back to Flemington

Flemington winner Cindy Falls will play in her own backyard Saturday after trainers Lee and Shannon Hope erred on a trip to Sydney and earlier-than-ideal stakes bid.

Cindy Falls (red and blue silks, white cap) arrives in time to win the Leilani Series Final at Flemington July 6. Picture: Brett Holburt / Racing Photos

Flemington winner Cindy Falls will play in her own backyard Saturday after trainers Lee and Shannon Hope erred on a trip to Sydney and an earlier-than-ideal stakes bid.

The father-son trainers entered the imported mare for the Listed Winter Challenge (1500m) at Randwick but the strength of the race and extra travel made Flemington a better option this week.

“She has come from New Zealand and done really well, but the actual race in Sydney has come up stronger than we anticipated,” co-trainer Shannon Hope said.

“We’ll stay home and play in our own backyard and go from there.”

Apprentice jockey Hannah Edgley is booked to ride Cindy Falls in the RMBL Investments Rising Stars Final (1600m) on Saturday from barrier four.

👀 Photo finish! Cindy Falls absolute flying home to just win the Leilani Series Final. What a finish.

📽 @7HorseRacingpic.twitter.com/TOTn4WeCUD

— Victoria Racing Club (@FlemingtonVRC) July 6, 2024

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“You would’ve thought there’d be good speed,” Hope said.

“There always seems to (in apprentice races), but when you say that the opposite happens.”

Cindy Falls was ridden cold and attacked the line with gusto last start at Flemington to claim the Leilani Series Final (1400m).

“I’ve got to be totally honest, we were very happy going into it but (became worried about) the bad barrier and track drying out,” Hope said.

“You do your own head in worrying about it … a few things can make you look stupid in life and horses certainly can.”

Cindy Falls recorded the fastest last 800m, 600m and 400m sectionals at Flemington last start, while her last 200m was third quickest on the card.

The versatile five-year-old mare raced on speed the start prior at Sandown and stuck on for third in a 1600m Benchmark 74 behind Arqana and Binding, who she meets again Saturday.

Busy finish at Sandown! 🤯

Arqana gets the gap and shoots clear to win! @[e-mail]/4HvIm3f6Rc

— 7HorseRacing 🐎 (@7horseracing) June 15, 2024

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“She’s earned $100,000 in two starts, the trainer that had her beforehand gave us a great insight to her, Jon Miler … there’s a lot of options for her going forward,” Hope said.

“We’ll hopefully add to the kitty on Saturday.”

Hope has medium and long-range stakes targets for the promising daughter of Sacred Falls.

“You’d hope to look at something like a Matriarch Stakes, long term,” Hope said.

“How good is she? We don’t really know.

“She’s honest, a great little mare to do anything with, we’ll look at Matriarch (in time), the main goal is to get black type.”

Cindy Falls (left) charges home under Dean Yendall at Flemington last month. Picture: Reg Ryan / Racing Photos

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The rise of Cindy Falls has arrived at the ideal time for the Hope stable, which resumed operation in 2022 after cobalt disqualifications.

“It’s taken a fair bit to rebuild and that’s what we’re doing,” Hope said.

“We’ve got a lot of good support, loyal owners who have come back, we’re rebuilding … at the moment she certainly is (stable flag bearer), her and old Big Brew, he’s eight, been the star of the stable for a long time, he keeps earning and that’s the most important thing.”

Cindy Falls has previously won and placed on Soft and Heavy tracks.

Originally published as Trainer Lee and Shannon Hope excited to get Cindy Falls back to Flemington