First Seal To Myer Classic After Tristarc Stakes Win

First Seal will head to the 2016 Myer Classic at Flemington in a fortnight after she returned to winning form in the Tristarc Stakes at Caulfield this afternoon.

First Seal will go to the Group 1 Myer Classic after winning the Tristarc Stakes at Caulfield

First Seal will go to the Group 1 Myer Classic after winning the Tristarc Stakes at Caulfield. Photo by Ultimate Racing Photos

First Seal was well-backed when she returned to the races in the Group 2 Golden Pendant (1400m) at Royal Randwick first-up and she was very disappointing, but she clearly took a great deal of benefit from the run and she was able to turn-the-tables on the Tristarc Stakes favourite Tycoon Tara.

Jockey Blake Shinn timed his run to perfection on First Seal and he was delighted to see the daughter of Fastnet Rock return to winning form in the Tristarc Stakes.

“I’ve ridden her pretty much her whole career and we were left a little bit deflated first-up, but we knew that she had excuses,” Shinn said.

“She came today a little bit fitter and she looked in great order.

“That win was always going to unsuit Tycoon Tara, who beat her last time, and we just got a lovely trail coming into it.

“She was back to her best today, she showed a lethal turn-of-foot and really attacked the line.”

Trainer John Thompson admitted after the race that he was shocked First Seal was unable to get the job done first-up in the Tristarc Stakes and he was thrilled that his star mare was able to return to a semblance of her best form this afternoon.

Thompson confirmed that First Seal would have her next race start in the Group 1 Myer Classic (1600m) at Flemington in a fortnight and he is confident that there is still improvement left in the five-year-old.

“I thought that she was a bit more forward than what she was first-up and obviously the hard-fit mares beat us on that day in a funnily–run race,” Thompson said.

“She did loom to do something, but her condition gave out.

“She is a lovely mare and she was the best horse in that race.

“She just needed to handle Caulfield and class prevailed.

“She is having a good blow, she is being aimed at the Myer and I am sure that Flemington will suit her better.

“I am looking forward to it.

“The days of beating Winx are a long time ago and she has had a lot of injuries since then and it is good to see her comeback and win.

“I’m sure that she has more wins in her.”

Tycoon Tara was brave in second place, but was not suited by the strong head-wind present at Caulfield this afternoon.

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Thomas Hackett

Thomas is a passionate and opinionated racing journalist and punter who has been obsessed with horse racing since he backed Saintly to win the 1996 Melbourne Cup. An international racing enthusiast, he has his finger on the pulse of racing news not just from Australia but all around the world.