Caulfield trainer Mick Price expects his filly Seabrook to make amends this Saturday in the Group 1 $500,000 Moet & Chandon Champagne Stakes (1600m) at Randwick following a disappointing effort last start.
Seabrook, above, is in fine shape to tackle the 2018 Champagne Stakes at Randwick. Photo by Steve Hart.
Seabrook ran a mighty race when fifth to Estijaab in the Group 1 $3.5m Longines Golden Slipper (1200m) at Rosehill on March 24 but then lost all chance when she bungled the start before finishing ninth to El Dorado Dreaming in the Group 1 $1m ATC Sires’ Produce Stakes (1400m) on day one of The Championships at Randwick on April 7.
“She kangaroo-hopped out of barrier one looking at the starter on his ladder and she was never on the bridle thereafter even though she got beaten a couple of lengths,” Price told racing.com.
“I haven’t been able to fault the horse physically. She’s thrived in Sydney. She’s a sound, tough filly out of a Don Eduardo mare so I think the mile (1600m) will be OK.
“I can’t see that she’s had enough, but she will be spelling after Saturday no matter the result.”
Seabrook made a spectacular Sydney debut with a dynamic finish to win the Group 2 $200,000 Chandon S Sweet Embrace Stakes (1200m) at Randwick on March 3 before performing creditably in the Golden Slipper.
The Melbourne filly will again be up against the ATC Sires’ Produce Stakes winner El Dorado Dreaming who scored the upset of the Sydney Autumn Carnival with her last to first win at the incredible odds of $81.
Golden Slipper winning trainers John, Michael and Wayne Hawkes have nominated Outrageous for the Champagne Stakes after the All Too Hard filly also ran home at the huge odds of $61 to fill third place in the ATC Sire’s Produce Stakes.
Seabrook has been installed the early $4.80 favourite for the Champagne Stakes with Ladbrokes.com.au ahead of the Ciaron Maher trained Not A Single Cent at $5.50, Lindsay Park’s Long Leaf at $6.50 and Outrageous at $7.
Early betting for the 2018 Champagne Stakes at Ladbrokes.com.au: $4.80 Seabrook, $5.50 Not A Single Cent, $6.50 Long Leaf, $7 Outrageous, $8 Bondi, $9 El Dorado Dreaming, $11 Irukandji, $15 Encryption, $17 Akkadian, Seberate, $19 Guerrie, $26 Ragged Rascal, Setsuna, $34 Blazing Issue, $61 Heaven Or Hell, Thank Heavens, $101 Kara’s Hope, $201 Affogato.
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