Sydney Group 1 Target for 2016 VRC Sires’ Produce Winner Seaburge

Co-trainer David Hayes is hoping to take this weekend’s VRC Sires’ Produce Stakes winner Seaburge to Sydney next start during ‘The Championships’ for a shot at Group 1 glory this autumn.

The talented young son of Sebring posted his second win at start number three on ‘Super Saturday’ at Flemington Racecourse with success in the $200,000 Group 2 MSS Security Sires’ Produce Stakes (1400m).

Ridden by Mark Zahra from the inside alley the colt settled fourth behind the Peter & Paul Snowden-trained son of Snitzel Detective, the perennial runner-up pinging from gate eight to find the early lead from John McArdle’s Hard Spun gelding Power Trip whose lead-up was a fourth to Extreme Choice in the Blue Diamond Stakes.

Tasmanian filly Hot Dipped, a winner of her previous three starts back home, settled in third ahead of the eventual winner Seaburge who Zahra rode patiently but still up closer to the pace than his last start at Sandown-Hillside.

As they approached the turn for home, Power Trip was urged along on the outside of Detective who showed the way into the straight.

With 200m to go Seaburge dashed up and went to challenge Detective, who was trying to lift again and regain the lead over the closing stages.

Once Zahra had Seaburge ($6) up off the rails however there was no stopping the speedy youngster who posted a three-quarter length win over Detective ($5) who ran second for the fourth time in as many career starts after travelling sweetly throughout in the Group 2.

Finishing off the VRC Sires’ Produce Stakes trifecta in a distant third was the Clinton McDonald-trained last start Sandown winner Revolving Door.

Seaburge got through on the inside late off a moderate temp impressing winning hoop Zahra.

“He really has the ability to switch off in the run and an electric turn of foot,” Zahra said.

“They walked early…the leader really kicked up at the 600 metres and I was able to slide up.

“He (Seaburge) did the rest.”

Hayes, who trains the horse in partnership with Tom Dabernig for the Lindsay Park operation, was thrilled with the VRC Sires’ Produce Stakes result that added plenty of value to Seaburge’s future value as a stallion.

“This is a springboard to next spring,” he said.

“He wasn’t racing for $200,000 today he was racing for millions adding to his value as a quality colt.”

Hayes is also pleased the youngster is living up to his early potential after he was purchased because of his resemblance to the stable’s superstar Criterion.

“From the moment he arrived in the stable he looked a bit special,” he said.

“He was bought because we though he looked like Criterion. He’s got the action of Criterion and we hope he ends up half as good.”

Next-up plans are to take Seaburge to Royal Randwick on April 2 for a shot at the $1 million Group 1 ATC Sires’ Produce Stakes (1400m), a race Hayes has previously won with Tristalove (1993) and St. Covet (1994).

“The plan is to go for the (ATC) Sires’, but we’ll see how he pulls up,” Hayes said.

“I think we’ll be in Sydney in a couple of weeks on the strength of that (win).”

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2016 VRC Sires’ Produce Stakes Results

Flemington Race 2 – 12/03/2016