Co-trainer Tom Dabernig believes the stable’s runner in Saturday’s 2016 Inglis Sires’ Produce at Royal Randwick Seaburge could have enough class to overcome a wide draw in the juvenlies’ classic on Day 1 of ‘The Championships’.
VRC Sires’ Produce winner Seaburge is out wide but still in the mix for the ATC edition of the race in Sydney on Saturday. Photo: Ultimate Racing Photos.
The first of four Group 1s on the Doncaster Mile Day card, this year’s $1 million Group 1 Inglis Sires’ (1400m) features 12 two-year-olds, the David Hayes & Dabernig-trained Seaburge to jump from the second widest alley (11).
Mark Zahra retains the ride on the smart Sebring colt who has won two of his three starts to date, all in Melbourne, and who debuts in Sydney on the weekend.
His last run was on March 12 at Flemington when stepping into black-type company for the first time.
He handled the rise in grade without a worry enjoying a strong three-quarter length victory over the Peter & Paul Snowden-trained Detective, who also backs up in Saturday’s Group 1, in the Group 2 VRC Sires’ Produce Stakes (1400m).
Seaburge is one of the few youngsters in the mix for the elite level proven over the distance, but he did it from barrier one of eight last start so will need to be improving the other way of racing in the ATC Sires’ from the wide draw.
Current ATC Sires’ Produce Stakes odds at Ladbrokes.com.au are led by the market mover Yankee Rose, David Vandyke’s filly at $3.40 for the win and firming following her impressive first-up second to Capitalist in Rosehill’s Group 1 Golden Slipper (1200m) on March 19.
The next best in betting are Golden Slipper fourth placegetter Telperion ($4) and the lightly-raced Chris Waller-trained filly Omei Sword ($5.50) in gate two with the Hong Kong-based Brett Prebble riding.
Seaburge is also being kept safe in Inglis Sires’ betting by the bookies at single-figures, his current quote to overcome the alley being $8.
That’s a good price according to Dabernig who described the up-and-comer as a “real professional” when speaking to Racing Victoria on Friday morning.
“He’s a real professional – he’s a very good, class colt,” he said.
“It’s his first run in Sydney and he’s drawn a touch wide but I think he’s one of our better two-year-olds and I think he’s got a touch of class so he’ll run really well.”
The last ATC Sires’ Produce Stakes winner from a double-digit barrier was Guelph (13 of 13 in 2013), while Dabernig’s uncle and co-trainer Hayes has won the race twice before back in 1993 and 1994 with Tristalove and St. Covet respectively.
The stable also have Redoute’s Choice filly Zamzam in the field backing up from a Listed St Albans Stakes (1200m) win at Moonee Valley on March 18.
Prior to that she caught the eye when a distant third as a $21 shot behind Extreme Choice and the fellow Mick Price-trained Flying Artie in Caulfield’s Group 1 Blue Diamond Stakes (1200m).
Saturday is just her fifth career start, and her first look at Sydney, and the bookies are paying $19 for her to score an upset over a distance Dabernig believes will suit.
“She’s always raced like 1400m will suit her,” he said.
“She handles the sting out of the ground and has thrived since she’s been in Sydney.
“Seaburge is possibly the better horse in time but Zamzam is hard fit and has never really run a bad race.”
To check the full markets on all the Group 1s in Sydney on Saturday and get behind your favourites at the right price head along to Ladbrokes.com.au – home of Odds Boost – today!
