Sincero has lived up to his favouritism status in today's Group 1 George Main Stakes (1500m) at Rosehill takiing out the event after a stride for stride battle with Ilovethiscity over the concluding stages.

At the line Sincero was a neck in front of Ilovethiscity after the latter had tracked Sincero until the top of the main straight. Sincero and O'Brien had barrier eight and this had left them exposed and three deep as the rest of the field came through inside them. Ilovethiscity and Avdulla had left quietly as usual and settled into following the favourite.

Gathering took the field down the back straight until Do Ra Mi took over. The order stayed the same with Sincero out and looking like O'Brien was having to keep the four-year-old up to his work. Ilovethiscity sat behind waiting.

Avdulla made his move as they straightened and Ilovethiscity swept past Sincero with both runners the widest of the field. Ilovethiscity went to the lead with 3/4L in hand and Sincero was having to chase hard, and not making too much traction as they went past the 200m

Then Sincero gathered speed and he clawed back the margin with 100m to run. The two went stride for stride but it was Sincero who had the crucial margin at the line.

Triple Elegance and Jim Cassidy were third, the margin 3/4L, with Black Piranha fourth. The time was 1.28.57 on the Good 3 track, with the final 600m in 34.39. Sincero paid $1.90 on NSW TAB.

There were jubilant scenes in the mounting yard as a large crowd of connections and supporters of Sincero celebrated the seemingly improbable win.

“He loves the horse Chris, he has so much faith in the horse,” said Farley.

“Nothing went to the game plan but I said to Chris that if he got stuck out there to not panic, and to relax, and he did. He saved him for a last run, I don't know but it was unbelievable really.

“I thought he was going to run a nice second, but he dug deep and he does not know when to give up this horse.

“Unbelievable. We have a great lot of owners and they are just enjoying the ride. I would like to thank my staff back home, they do a fantastic job with him.

“He will go to the Epsom and then to Melbourne, one step at a time,” he said.

“He sort of just cruised along. He was a little bit flat there, but when Ilovethiscity went past him and put a neck on him he pinned his ears back and said let's get into it,” said O'Brien.

“He loves a fight. He got quite comfortable in the running and he is such a big striding horse you do not want to get him bottled up as it causes more problems.

“There is a good bunch of owners and I would like to thank them for putting me on, and keeping me on,” he said.

“He probably pushed the button a bit early and he could have waited a fraction longer,” said Grahame Begg, trainer of Ilovethiscity.

“He is a very good horse the winner and we are not disappointed in his run. He has run very well out of his skin,” he added.

Either the Group 1 Epsom Handicap (1600m) at Randwick on October 1 or the Group 1 Toorak Handicap (1600m) at Caulfield a week later will be next for Ilovethiscity.

The Group 1 WFA Tatts Cox Plate (2040m) at Moonee Valley on October 22 is the main target for Sincero, but the ATC's spring highlight of the Epsom Handicap is first.