By Ray Hickson
Trainer Mick Price is more than happy for his filly Seabrook to be in the category of forgotten horse ahead of Saturday’s $3.5m Longines Golden Slipper (1200m) at Rosehill.
The Sweet Embrace Stakes winner has been out of sight, and therefore out of mind, since her impressive win earlier this month and Price said she’s done everything right.
Seabrook had her final serious gallop on Saturday morning and will have one more “softish’’ spin on the Rosehill course proper on Tuesday to top off her preparation.
“Her work is pretty much done. I’m very happy with her,’’ Price said.
“When you have the favourite and Blue Diamond winner winning that’s going to take a big chunk of market share so there’s going to be some forgotten horses in the race.
“But she doesn’t know that and she’s thriving and I think she will run super and be finishing off strongly.’’
Seabrook takes out the Sweet Embrace Stakes at Randwick on March 3
Crystal Lily (2010) is the last Sweet Embrace winner to claim the Slipper and Seabrook is on the sixth line of betting with TAB at $11 prior to Tuesday’s barrier draw.
Sunlight’s hold on favouritism strengthened after her Magic Night Stakes win on Saturday to $3.50 while Pago Pago winner, the unbeaten Written By is $5.
Price has thrown a few smart youngsters at the Golden Slipper in recent years without success but, unlike some of them, he says Seabrook is untapped.
Blue Diamond winner Samaready (2012) and runner-up Flying Artie (2016) both finished third in the Slipper in their respective years while Ready For Victory (2015) ran fourth, at just his second start, after running off the track.
“I’ve knocked on the door a couple of times and haven’t been quite able to open it. But hopefully this year is the year for us,’’ Price said.
“It was difficult when we didn’t get a run in the Blue Diamond to test her in better company. She should have won a Prelude but we couldn’t test her.
“You saw what she did in the Sweet Embrace under difficult conditions because of the gate but I thought it was a brave win and indicative she’s a strong 1200m horse.’’
In the Sweet Embrace, Punters Intel data revealed Seabrook covered more ground than any other runner but still produced the fastest last 600m (35.16) and 200m (12.06) on a day not noted for fast times.
Price, who will also start Blue Diamond fourth placegetter Prairie Fire ($35) in the Slipper, has plenty of respect for the two youngsters victorious on Saturday but it’s obvious he’s not conceding.
“I’m hoping they had extremely tough runs but they are outstanding two-year-old and can win a Slipper,’’ he said.
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