First Seal
Group One winner First Seal has shown her class in her Melbourne debut, delivering a special win for her connections in the Gr. 2 Tristarc Stakes at Caulfield this afternoon.
The John Thompson-trained mare stripped a fitter horse than when she loomed up in the straight before finishing fifth in the Golden Pendant first-up in Sydney three weeks ago.
After settling midfield with cover, Blake Shinn had First Seal ($7.50) out in the clear in the straight and she let down powerfully to reel in the in-form favourite Tycoon Tara ($2.90) to win by a short neck.
First Seal, who has won six of her 17 starts with another six seconds, had the wood on Winx early in their three-year-old season, including when winning the Gr. 1 Flight Stakes in 2014.
"She's a lovely mare. She was the best horse in the race today, she just needed to handle Caulfield. She wobbled a little bit around the corner but class prevailed," Thompson said.
"Look, the days of beating Winx are a long time ago. She's had a lot of injuries, nothing major but just little niggles and it's good to see her come back and win. I'm sure she's got more wins in her.
"She's a special horse to me and the stable."
The Gr. 1 Myer Classic in two weeks at Flemington is First Seal's main spring target.
Bred by Raffles Dancers Pty First Seal is one of seven winning foals out of the Scenic mare Episode, herself a dual Oaks winner in Australia at three. She was sold to Bart Cummings for $700,000 through Curraghmore's 2013 NZB Premier Yearling Sale draft. - AAP
The John Thompson-trained mare stripped a fitter horse than when she loomed up in the straight before finishing fifth in the Golden Pendant first-up in Sydney three weeks ago.
After settling midfield with cover, Blake Shinn had First Seal ($7.50) out in the clear in the straight and she let down powerfully to reel in the in-form favourite Tycoon Tara ($2.90) to win by a short neck.
First Seal, who has won six of her 17 starts with another six seconds, had the wood on Winx early in their three-year-old season, including when winning the Gr. 1 Flight Stakes in 2014.
"She's a lovely mare. She was the best horse in the race today, she just needed to handle Caulfield. She wobbled a little bit around the corner but class prevailed," Thompson said.
"Look, the days of beating Winx are a long time ago. She's had a lot of injuries, nothing major but just little niggles and it's good to see her come back and win. I'm sure she's got more wins in her.
"She's a special horse to me and the stable."
The Gr. 1 Myer Classic in two weeks at Flemington is First Seal's main spring target.
Bred by Raffles Dancers Pty First Seal is one of seven winning foals out of the Scenic mare Episode, herself a dual Oaks winner in Australia at three. She was sold to Bart Cummings for $700,000 through Curraghmore's 2013 NZB Premier Yearling Sale draft. - AAP
