Victorian raider Seabrook has stamped herself as a filly to follow into the 2018 Golden Slipper via an outstanding win in the Group 2 Sweet Embrace Stakes (1200m) at Royal Randwick this afternoon.
Trainer Mick Price was bullish of the filly’s condition leading into her Sydney debut this week and she had the added advantage of Hugh Bowman in the saddle for the first time in the Sweet Embrace Stakes.
Jumping from the gates well, Bowman elected to settle Seabrook ($7.50) off the early pace set by Setsuna ($10), Into The Abyss ($19) and Casadiva ($12), who flew the barriers and injected plenty of tempo into the race from the outset.
Bowman worked the filly to the outside of the pack as the field turned for home, but allowed her plenty of time to balanace before asking for an extra effort.
Immediately responding, the talented daughter of Hinchinbrook mustered a huge turn of foot to finish over the top of her rivals and stamp her claims on a berth in the world’s richest race for two-year-olds at Rosehill Gardens in three weeks.
Prior to the Sweet Embrace Stakes, Seabrook was rated a $51 chance to win the Golden Slipper in our early market, but has now firmed in drastically to currently show at a price of $19.
Seabrook debuted to racing for a credible fourth in the Inglis Banner (1000m) at Moonee Valley in October and blew off the cobwebs with a smart first-up run for third in the Group 2 Blue Diamond Prelude F (1100m) at Caulfield on February 10th.
Race favourite Fiesta ($4) looked to be the winner 200m from home, but was unable to respond to Seabrook’s massive turn of foot, while Into The Abyss and Setsuna both boxed on well to finish third and fourth respectively.