Lindsay Park co-trainer David Hayes is willing to give Seaburge another chance in Group 1 company when he lines up against the older horses in the Group 1 $2m Emirates Stakes (2000m) at Flemington on Saturday.
Seaburge, above in blue and lime green colours, gets another chance to win a G1 race in the Emirates Stakes at Flemington. Photo by Ultimate Racing Photos.
The three year old colt narrowly miss out on claiming a Group 1 victory when second against his own age behind Divine Prophet in the in the Group 1 $1m Ladbrokes Caulfield Guineas (1600m) at Caulfield on October 8.
Hayes along with co-trainers Ben Hayes and Tom Dabernig decided to test Seaburge against the older horses under handicap conditions but from barrier two the Sebring colt was cluttered up for a long way in the straight before finishing eighth to Le Romain in the Group 1 $1m Cantala Stakes (1600m) at Flemington last Saturday.
Light weight jockey Dean Yendall takes over from Hong Kong based Chad Schofield on Seaburge who has drawn barrier two again in the thirteen horse field of the Emirates Stakes which is the renamed Mackinnon Stakes which has been been switched from the first day of the Melbourne Cup Carnival to day four..
While Hayes wasn’t happy to see Seaburge caught up amongst runners in the Cantala Stakes he thinks the inside gate won’t be a problem over the 2000m.
“He has got an inside gate which I think at 2000m shouldn’t be a factor, we didn’t like the inside gate in the Group 1 (last) Saturday,” Hayes said.
“But a slower tempo and I am sure he is crying out for 2000m and he has pulled up jumping out of his skin.”
“So I would give him another chance.”
Yendall has had a terrific Spring Carnival and after claiming is first Group 1 win on Yankee Rose in the $500,000 Moet & Chandon Spring Champion Stakes (2000m) at Randwick on October 8, made it two for the Carnival with a win in I Am A Star in the Group 1 $500,000 Myer Classic (1600m) at Flemington on October 29.
Seaburge is rated a $16 chance for the Emirates Stakes with Ladbrokes.com.au while the other three year old in the race, Ladbrokes Classic winner Good Standing, is also at double figure odds at $12.
Melbourne Cup winning trained Robert Hickmott provides the $4.20 favourite The United States who holds a slight advantage over French galloper Vadamos at $4.60 with English visitor Scottish also in contention at $5.
