First Seal Included In Light Fingers Stakes Field

The 2015 Light Fingers Stakes field has been released and Group 1 winning filly First Seal is set to return to the races in the Group 2 event at Royal Randwick on Saturday.

First Seal has been included in the 2015 Light Fingers Stakes field. Photo by: Steve Hart

First Seal has been included in the 2015 Light Fingers Stakes field. Photo by: Steve Hart

First Seal was the star filly of the 2014 Spring Racing Carnival and she took out the Group 2 Tea Rose Stakes (1400m) and Group 1 Flight Stakes (1600m) in impressive fashion before she was upset by Hampton Court in the Group 1 Spring Champion Stakes (2000m) at Royal Randwick on October 11.

The Fastnet Rock filly made her first public appearance since the spring with an impressive performance in a barrier trial at Royal Randwick on February 2 and trainer John Thompson believes that the three-year-old could be good enough to win a race like the Group 1 Doncaster Mile (1600m) in the autumn.

First Seal (barrier one) had the measure of Winx during the spring, but the promising Chris Waller-trained filly will have the opportunity to turn-the-tables on her rival in the Light Fingers Stakes this weekend.

Winx (barrier three) stamped herself as a filly to watch with an upset win over Earthquake in the Group 2 Furious Stakes (1200m) at Royal Randwick on September 6 and she started the Tea Rose Stakes as a short-priced favourite, but was upset by First Seal and finished second again in the Flight Stakes.

Winx will be joined in the Light Fingers Stakes field by stablemate Amicus, who will be making her first appearance at the races since she took out the Group 1 Thousand Guineas (1600m) at Caulfield on October 11.

Amicus (barrier five) has flown under the radar ahead of her return to racing, but she performed strongly in a barrier trial behind Press Report, who has also been included in the Light Fingers Staked field, at Rosehill Gardens on February 3.

Mossfun (barrier seven) also contested that same barrier trial and will make her long-awaited return to racing in the Light Fingers Stakes at Royal Randwick this weekend.

The daughter of Mossman recorded a memorable win in the Group 1 Golden Slipper (1200m) at Rosehill Gardens on April 5, but she missed the entire 2014 Spring Racing Carnival due to a virus.

Team Hawkes have been happy with the way that Mossfun has returned for her autumn preparation and they have included her in the nominations for both the Group 1 Newmarket Handicap (1200m) and the Group 1 T.J. Smith Stakes (1200m).

Another Group 1 winner that has been included in the 2015 Light Fingers Stakes field is Gerald Ryan-trained Peggy Jean.

Peggy Jean failed to fire in two race starts during the spring, but Ryan is thrilled with the condition and is expecting her to perform well this weekend.

The 2015 Light Fingers Stakes field is rounded out by Godolphin filly Memorial (barrier four), Gucci Stakes winner Onemorezeta (barrier six), Jason Coyle-trained Slightly Sweet (barrier ten) and the Gai Waterhouse-trained duo of Adrift (barrier 11) and Supara (barrier two).

About The Author

Thomas Hackett

Thomas is a passionate and opinionated racing journalist and punter who has been obsessed with horse racing since he backed Saintly to win the 1996 Melbourne Cup. An international racing enthusiast, he has his finger on the pulse of racing news not just from Australia but all around the world.