Headline filly First Seal has drawn midfield in the fourteen horse Group 1 $400,000 Vinery Stud Stakes (2000m) at Rosehill on Saturday.
First Seal has drawn barrier seven in the fourteen horse Vinery Stud Stakes at Rosehill. Photo by Steve Hart.
The John Thompson trained First Seal will start the short priced favourite again after drawing barrier seven while her main danger Set Square has received another wide draw coming up with gate twelve.
New rider James McDonald is certain to give the Fastnet Rock filly the perfect run from the favourable draw after describing her as the best filly he has ridden following two trackwork sessions.
“Just off the feel she’s given me in the two gallops so far, I’m already thinking she’s the best I’ve sat on in the filly division,” McDonald told The Daily Telegraph.
“It’s freakish what she can do on that track.”
McDonald will be replacing Blake Shinn who has been aboard First Seal at her three Autumn Carnival dates this campaign resulting in one win and two seconds, including her last start second as favourite to Plucky Belle in the Group 1 $600,000 Coolmore Classic (1500m) at Rosehill on March 14.
First Seal with Shinn on top was beaten first up by Adrift in the Group 2 $175,000 Liberty International Underwriters Light Fingers Stakes (1200m) at Randwick on February 14 followed by a win in the Group 2 $175,000 Surround Stakes (1400m) at Warwick Farm on February 28.
Shinn won’t be without a ride and will partner the Lee and Shannon Hope trained Fenway who has drawn barrier eleven.
Trainer Ciaron Maher will be disappointed that Set Square has drawn out wide again after his filly drew wide gates at both her Autumn Carnival runs this campaign.
She drew the outside of nine when second to Sweet And Speedy in the Group 3 $150,000 The Vanity (1400m) at Flemington on February 21 and then jumped one from the outside when third in the twelve horse Group 3 $150,000 Schweppervescence Trophy (1600m) at Flemington on March 14.
Top Melbourne jockey Craig Williams will be having his first ride on the 2014 Crown Oaks winner, taking over from the suspended Hugh Bowman.
Premiership winning trainer Chris Waller has accepted with three fillies, with last start Group 2 Phar Lap winner Winx drawing the best at six, Thousand Guineas winner Amicus coming up with gate eight and improving restricted class filly Ballet Suite drawing the worst at gate thirteen.
Peter Moody’s The Vanity winner Sweet And Speedy has also drawn out wide at ten while the Gai Waterhouse trained Adrift with Damien Oliver aboard will jump from gate five.
Slightly Sweet is stepping up to the Group 1 company of the Vinery Stud Stakes after winning the Group 3 $200,000 The Illawarra Mercury Keith F Nolan Classic (1600m) at Kembla Grange on March 13 and is certain to be given a cosy run from gate three by Kathy O’Hara.
The Jason Coyle trained filly has been racing in consistent form this preparation and was placed at both runs prior with a third to Adrift in the Light Fingers Stakes followed by a third to First Seal in the Surround Stakes.
