Trainer John Thompson is confident that First Seal can redeem herself in the Group 1 $400,000 Vinery Stud Stakes (2000m) at Rosehill on Saturday following her shock last start defeat.
First Seal is ready to redeem herself in the Vinery Stud Stakes at Rosehill after a shock defeat in the Coolmore Classic. Photo by Steve Hart.
First Seal was pipped on the post by the Peter Moody trained Plucky Belle when she was sent out the $1.60 favourite against the older mares in the Group 1 $600,000 Coolmore Classic (1500m) at Rosehill on March 14 and Thompson has reported that the filly has pulled up in fine style and is ready to do battle again against the fillies.
“She has come through the race very well,” Thompson told RSN.
“She just did it a little tough there, the early effort told in the finish. I’ll probably say the winner didn’t run past her, she probably stopped.”
“She covered a bit of extra ground and Blake probably went a little fraction early in hindsight. Hindsight is a great thing. The filly is good and that’s the main thing. She has come through it, that’s her greatest attribute.”
“She pulls up, she hasn’t left an oat since, onto the Vinery now.”
“She ran very gallantly and the weight and the early effort in the race told the last fifty yards.”
First Seal was coming off a win in the Group 2 $175,000 Surround Stakes (1400m) at Warwick Farm on February 28 prior to her defeat in the Coolmore Classic but was also beaten first up when second to Adrift in the Group 2 $175,000 Liberty International Underwriters Light Fingers Stakes (1200m) at Randwick on February 14.
Blake Shinn has been aboard the Fastnet Rock filly in all her three runs this campaign and has paid the price for only one win and has been replaced by James McDonald for her next two starts.
“The owners had a meeting, they wanted a change. One from three on her this prep, half a bit of luck she probably should be three from three, so they wanted a change. James McDonald is going to ride her the next couple of runs.”
“She will run the Vinery and then the Queen Of The Turf. Going to the mares weight for age she gets in pretty well on the weights, so it just looks like a nice race for her
Following the Vinery Stud Stakes First Seal will take on the old mares again in the weight for age Group 1 $1m Queen Of The Turf Stakes (1600m) at Randwick on April 11, the second day of ‘The Championships’.
In early betting for the Vinery Stud Stakes, Ladbrokes.com.au have First Seal the short priced $1.90 favourite ahead of the Crown Oaks winner Set Square at $5.50 and the Chris Waller fillies Winx at $7 and Amicus at $10.
