Sydney’s Autumn Carnival may prove to be the stage on which First Seal announces herself as the next star of Australian racing after she reaffirmed herself as the dominant filly of her generation in the $A175,000 G2 Surround Stakes. The 1400m event was slated as a support race on a star program but the performance of the John Thompson trained filly stole the limelight of her more established peers.
Thompson is now finalizing a plan that could not only deliver further G1 success but could anoint First Seal as Australia’s next star galloper. Much will hinge on her next start, the $A600,000 G1 Coolmore Classic (1500m), a time honoured filly and mares race and her first test against older horses. There are any number of permutations that will stem off this event. Success is likely to see her target the $A3 million Doncaster Handicap (1600m) where she will face an outstanding field of local and international runners. If she was beaten in the Coolmore Classic she may be directed to the $A400,000 G1 Vinery Stakes (2000m) against her own age and sex. There is also the $A1 million G1 Queen of the Turf, $A1 million G1 ATC Australian Oaks and the $A4 million G1 Queen Elizabeth Stakes, the flagship event of The Championships, for Thompson to consider.
“I told Blake [Shinn] to ride her where she was comfortable,’’ a confident Thompson said to News.com.au after the G2 Surround Stakes.
Blake Shinn with First Seal
“First Seal was always travelling and that is all I want. I don’t care where she is in her races. I don’t care whether she is first or last as long as she’s travelling because when she gets out into the clear, she will do her job and get it done.’’
Fellow China Horse Club performer, Dissident, ran third in the G1 Futurity Stakes over the weekend in Melbourne. The sprint-miler is already a four time G1 winner and trainer Peter Moody is assessing his condition and his current program after he was found to have significant mucus in his lungs immediately after the race.