Sea Siren will race in the royal blue and pink colours of owner Keith Biggs for the last time in the Group 1 $400,000 Bundaberg Distilling Co. BTC Cup (1200m) at Eagle Farm today after a deal to sell the multiple Group 1 winner draws to a completion.
Sea Siren and Jim Cassidy winning the 2012 BTC Cup at Doomben. Photo by Daniel Costello.
Sea Siren is chasing back to back wins in the feature sprint after beating Scenic Blast and Beaded last year and the sale to Coolomore will be finalized on Monday following another vet check.
“It was a three-way contest and Coolmore have purchased her subject to a vetting after she races ” Bloodstock agent James Bester said.
“She will race in Keith’s colours this week and then revert to Coolmore ownership.”
Bester was behind the negotiation of the sale which is believed to be around the $2 million mark and the three times Group 1 winner could be mated with Coolmore Australia’s first season sire Pierro.
Coolmore purchased the star three year old Pierro after the colt ran second to Sacred Falls in the Group 1 $2m BMW Doncaster Mile (1600m) at Randwick on April 20 for reported $40 million and Bester can see Sea Siren being the perfect mate for the five times Group 1 winner.
“She is absolutely ideal for Pierro,” Bester said.
Sea Siren had a stellar winter last year winning both the BTC Cup and the Group 1 $650,000 Carlton Mid Doomben 10,000 (1350m).
The Fastnet Rock mare also shone in the Spring with a win in the Group 1 $500,000 Manikato Stakes (1200m) at Moonee Valley but has struggled to regain her best form since.
A spell followed an unsuccessful trip to Hong Kong where the Sea Siren mare finished worst than midfield in the Group 1 HK$15m Longines Hong Kong Sprint (1200m) at Sha Tin in December and she has been struggling to find her best form since.
With two runs and a barrier trial under her belt this campaign O’Shea is expecting Sea Siren to be very competitive in the BTC Cup.
“This Saturday is the first race where she’s suited and I’m happy with how she is leading into it,” O’Shea said.
“The difference between this year and last year is that the races she could win last year were early in her preparation and that wasn’t the case this year.”
“The problem with going overseas is that it takes so long to get them back and it’s really taken a lot of work to get her fit this time,” O’Shea added.
Topweight Buffering remains the short priced $2.30 favourite to win his first Group 1 with Sydney speedster Rain Affair the next in the market at $5.
Sea Siren is solid in the betting at $5.50 ahead of local three year old Better Than Ready at $7.
