Warwick Stakes casualty First Seal is back at the track and will make her belated Spring Carnival appearance in the Group 2 $175,000 Tramway Stakes (1400m) at Randwick on September 5.

First Seal is back on track to resume in the Tramway Stakes at Randwick. Photo by Steve Hart.

First Seal was due to step out in the Group 2 $250,000 Pro-Ride Warwick Stakes (1400m) at Randwick last Saturday but the short priced favourite was a race morning scratching after she succumbed to a foot abscess.

But trainer John Thompson has reported that his Group 1 winning mare is on the mend and was free in her action when she worked at Randwick this morning.

“She is back working again. She went five evens this morning on the Kensington track. She seems fine,” Thompson told Racing and Sports.

Thompson has his fingers crossed that First Seal won’t have a recurrence later in the Spring Carnival and is hopeful of having her in prime condition for the Group 1 $1m The Star Epsom (1600m) at Randwick on October 3.

“I guess you never know with feet, it can always come back especially in wet weather,” Thompson said.

“At this stage we are full steam ahead, heading towards the Tramway and hopefully we have got our hurdle out of the way this preparation nice and early and now we are trouble free.”

“You have to give them time to get over it and it was not worth the risk to run her on Saturday so hopefully we can go on Saturday week.”

“She is still heading towards the Epsom, with the Tramway first up hopefully.”

First Seal had already started the Spring Carnival off in great style, taking out the title of the New South Wales Horse Of Year at the awards night last Thursday.

As well as claiming the NSW Horse Of The Year title, First Seal also won the champion three-year-old and Queen of the Autumn titles for her race day deeds over the past twelve months.

During the 2014 Sydney Spring Carnival First Seal won the Group 1 $400,000 Coolmore Flight Stakes (1600m) at Randwick before running second to Hampton Court in the Group 1 $400,000 Moet & Chandon Spring Champion Stakes (2000m) at Randwick.

Then in the Autumn the glamour filly added the Group 2 $175,000 Surround Stakes (1400m) at Warwick Farm on February 28 to her winning record before finishing in the runner’s up stall at her two next starts.

First Seal was pipped on the post by the Peter Moody trained Plucky Belle in the Group 1 $600,000 Coolmore Classic (1500m) at Rosehill and was then beaten a neck by Victorian filly Fenway in the Group 1 $400,000 Vinery Stud Stakes (2000m) at Rosehill.

First Seal has been installed the early favourite for the Star Epsom at $7 with Ladbrokes.com.au ahead of the Chris Waller trained Doncaster Mile winner Kermadec at $8 with Gai Waterhouse’s Doomben Cup winner Pornichet, last Saturday’s Warwick Stakes winner Royal Descent and the promising Sweynesse all at $11.