Seaburge wins VRC Sires’ Produce Stakes
Seaburge has completed the first leg of what trainer David Hayes hopes will be a Sires’ Produce Stakes double for the colt.
Hayes has high hopes for Seaburge, who showed his potential in taking out Saturday’s Group Two VRC Sires’ Produce Stakes (1400m) at Flemington.
The two-year-old is now expected to head to Sydney for the Group One ATC Sires’ Produce Stakes at Randwick on April 2.
“From the moment he arrived in the stable he looked a bit special,” Hayes said.
“He was bought because we thought he looked like Criterion and he’s got that sort of action of Criterion. Let’s hope he ends up half as good.”
Criterion, who joined Hayes’ Lindsay Park stable in late 2014, has won multiple Group One races in Australia.
Seaburge was sent out a $5.50 chance in his third start and after sitting behind the speed he made his winning run closest to the inside.
He sprinted past leader and eventual runner-up Detective ($5) but started to stargaze before winning by three-quarters of a length.
Revolving Door ($4), who had beaten Seaburge at their most recent start at Sandown, was another 2-1/4 lengths away third.
Hayes, who is also a part-owner of Seaburge, said while Saturday’s race was a $200,000 event, the victory in the Group Two race was much more valuable given Seaburge’s potential future stallion value.
Jockey Mark Zahra was also impressed.
“He’s got a good horse’s feel about him,” Zahra said.
Seaburge has firmed from $26 to $15 for the ATC Sires’ Produce Stakes after Saturday’s win.