Sebring Sun is set to contest the 2015 Coolmore Stud Stakes and trainer Gary Portelli believes that the talented colt has the ability to upset Exosphere in the Group 1 event that will be held at Flemington on Saturday.
Sebring Sun has the chance to record a maiden win at Group 1 level in the 2015 Coolmore Stud Stakes. Photo by: Steve Hart
Sebring Sun started his 2015 Spring Racing Carnival win with a fast-finishing victory in a maiden at Canterbury on July 29 and he stamped himself as a leading Golden Rose contender when he took out the Listed The Rosebud (1200m) at Royal Randwick on August 8.
The son of Sebring missed the start in the Group 3 Up And Coming Stakes (1300m) at Royal Randwick on August 22, but he was still able to hit the line strongly to finish third behind Shards and Voilier before he finished three lengths behind Exosphere in the Group 1 Golden Rose Stakes (1400m) at Rosehill Gardens.
Portelli admits that Exosphere is a very talented horse, but he does not believe that he is unbeatable in the 2015 Coolmore Stud Stakes and he pointed to the fact that Sebring Sun actually ran faster sectionals than his rival in the final stages of the Golden Rose Stakes.
“I take confidence out of the Golden Rose,” Portelli told AAP.
“Sebring Sun gave Exosphere a fair start and ran faster sectionals.
“So we don’t want to be giving him a start.
“It’s like taking on Usain Bolt from behind.
“We want to be in front of him and let him chase us.”
Sebring Sun has already been in Melbourne for a fortnight and he was given his first look at the famous Flemington straight in a jump out on Friday morning.
Portelli said that Sebring Sun will gallop down the straight again this week in the lead-up to the 2015 Coolmore Stakes, but he is confident that the three-year-old will not have the same problems as his stablemate Rebel Dane does when he runs down the straight.
“Friday’s jump-out was to make sure he came out of the barriers and handled the straight course because he had never been on it before,” Portelli said.”
Sebring Sun is currently available at Coolmore Stud Stakes odds of $18 and he is on the seventh line of betting behind Exosphere ($1.40), Keen Array ($8), Mogador ($8), Counterattack ($12), Hellbent ($12), Japonisme ($14) and Kinglike ($14).
You can score the best Coolmore Stud Stakes odds with Ladbrokes, who will offer Best Tote or Starting Price +20% for every single race at Flemington on Saturday.
