International plans for Sea Siren after Doomben 10,000

BTC Cup winner Sea Siren will springboard an international campaign with a top class performance in the Group 1 $650,000 Carlton Mid Doomben 10,000 (1350m) at Doomben on Saturday.

The John O’Shea trained Sea Siren will first have to rewrite the record books with no filly winning the Doomben 10,000 since its inception in 1933 before planning a trip to Hong Kong later in the year.

“It’s a pretty big hurdle to overcome but no three-year-old filly had won the BTC Cup until two weeks ago either,” O’Shea said.

“She’s come on since her win a fortnight ago and I’m really happy with her. I’m sure she will run well again.”

O’Shea said he is still learning a lot about his filly but with wins at Canterbury, Warwick Farm and Doomben have prompted him to think that the small tight turning tracks are to her liking.

Hence his keenness to travel to Hong Kong for the Group 1 Hong Kong Sprint (1200m) at Sha Tin in December after competing in the Group 1 $350,000 Manikato Stakes (1200m) at Moonee Valley on October 26.

“I’m still learning about this filly but she really appreciates tight-turning tracks,” O’Shea said.

“She’s won at Canterbury, Warwick Farm and Doomben which are all tight-turning so in the spring I’ll take her to Melbourne for the Manikato Stakes at Moonee Valley.”

“She’s never raced on a track with wide open spaces like Eagle Farm, Randwick or Flemington.”

O’Shea had previously been to Hong Kong with Racing To Win but the trip ended in disappointment when the grey received a career ending injury in the Group 1 Hong Kong Mile in 2009.

“Racing To Win was galloped on in the Hong Kong Mile and he never raced again,” O’Shea said.

“I learnt a lot from that trip and I want to take this filly over for the Hong Kong Sprint.”

The Fastnet Rock filly arrived in Brisbane with two Canterbury wins and a victory over Australian Oaks winner Streama in the Group 2 $175,000 Patinack Farm Surround Stakes (1400m) at Warwick Farm on March 10.

Sea Siren has maintained her Doomben 10,000 favouritism all week and is currently $4.20, just ahead of the Robert Heathcote trained Buffering and Tim Martin’s Pampelonne who share the $5.50 spot.

Peter Moody’s Mid Summer Music is at $12 and Buffering’s stablemate Woorim and Pinwheel from the Peter Snowden stable are at $14.

Buffering has been under an injury cloud since he was scratched from the BTC Cup on race morning with a bruised hoof, but Heathcote has declared him fit to take his place in the Doomben 10,000 on Saturday after getting through this week’s track work with no troubles.

“He worked well and more importantly pulled up sound,” Heathcote said.

“He’ll keep going to Nudgee Beach for some power walking in the surf.”

“I’ll be taking him to the races on Saturday in good shape.”

Buffering was on the verge of securing his first Group 1 victory in the BTC Cup after being placed behind Black Caviar, Hay List and Foxwedge during the this year’s Melbourne Autumn Carnival and now faces a tough task on Saturday after missing a run and several key gallops due to his injured hoof.

About The Author

Mark Mazzaglia

Mark is a passionate journalist with a life-time involvement in the racing industry. He spent many years as an analyst and form expert at the Courier Mail and also has hands-on experience working with some of Queensland’s top trainers.