Track specialist Sea Lord could give trainer Stephen Brown his largest pay cheque if he can take out the Group 2 $220,000 Essendon Mazda Australia Stakes (1200m) at Moonee Valley tonight.
Sea Lord has stepped out at Moonee Valley three times for Brown and delivered three winning cheques but tonight is by far his toughest assignment.
“He seems to be a Moonee Valley specialist and there are no Black Caviar’s this year so I think he has a really good crack at it,” Brown said.
Black Caviar gave nothing else a chance last year winning as she liked by four and a quarter lengths from Zedi Knight who is lining up two years in a row.
Sea Lord is facing up against Undeniably again after finishing second to the Mark Kavanagh trained sprinter at Caulfield on Boxing Day in the Listed $120,000 Jack & Muriel Memorial Christmas Stakes (1200m).
“He was a little big going into that race and we have kept on top of him, he’s probably as good as what I’ve ever had him,” Brown said.
“He will run a good race for sure, he’s going well and I’m really happy with him.”
Sea Lord has been a great money spinner for Brown and from seven starts for the stable has won three times as well as running second at Caulfield last start.
“We bought him in a three-horse package – him, Winter King and another one and Sea Lord has been nothing short of remarkable for us – every time he goes out there he seems to earn a cheque,” Brown said.
“He’s doing his best every start so he can’t really improve, but he’s drawn barrier one tonight and it looks like it’s a really good race that he has a winning chance in.”
The Peter Snowden trained Pinwheel holds the key to the race and if he can get a soft run just off the pace will be hard to beat under the weight for age conditions.
Pin Wheel is coming off a short break after running fourth to Barakey in the Group 1 $500,000 Crown Perth-Winterbottom Stakes (1200m) at Ascot, Perth on November 24.
The seven year old also has two wins at weight for age to his credit last Spring winning the Group 2 $175,000 WFA Pro-Ride Warwick Stakes (1400m) on August 25 and the Group 3 $125,000 WFA McGrath Missile Stakes (1200m) on August 11, both at Warwick Farm.
Pinwheel heads the Australia Stakes market at $2, just ahead of Undeniably at $3.90 with Sea Lord at $6.50.
