The training partnership of Colin and Cindy Alderson will make a rare trip to Sydney on Saturday when Sea Galleon tackles the Listed Christmas Cup.
It has been more than 10 years since the Aldersons last made the trek from Victoria with Sky Heights who won the now defunct Group Two St Leger Stakes (2600m) at Randwick in 2001.
Two years earlier he dominated the three-year-old features, winning the Group One double of the Rosehill Guineas and AJC Australian Derby.
“I don’t think we’ve had a runner there since Sky Heights,” Cindy Alderson said.
“This is our first trip back since.”
Sea Galleon might not be in the same league as Sky Heights but he will head to Rosehill in a purple patch of form.
Group One-placed in last year’s SA Derby, Sea Galleon has had five starts this campaign for three wins, the past two in a row.
He followed a solid victory over 2040m at Moonee Valley on November 19 with a resounding four-length romp over the Christmas Cup distance of 2400m at Sandown last time out.
Alderson puts his good recent form down to several factors, including a gelding procedure.
“Probably that and the fact they are easier races he is competing in,” Alderson said.
“He ran in some strong races when he was a four-year-old in the spring (of 2010), races like the Moonee Valley Cup.
“He seems to be happy at the moment and he is full of himself.”
The Rosehill track was rated a heavy (8) on Thursday and while Sea Galleon was successful on a similarly-rated track at Sandown, Alderson said she didn’t want it any worse.
“He doesn’t like a heavy track when it is too deep. He just likes it soft,” she said.
Sea Galleon is the $2.80 pre-post favourite ahead of Darley’s Yulalona at $3.60.
Glyn Schofield has picked up the ride on Sea Galleon and will be chasing his third Christmas Cup in the space of four years.
Schofield, who finished third aboard King Saul in the Group One Kingston Town Stakes in Perth last Saturday, won last year’s Christmas Cup aboard Bellagio Wynn and was also successful on Ready To Lift two years earlier.
The Tim Martin-trained 2009 Christmas Cup winner Scouting Wide won’t get the chance to claim a second victory after being scratched on Thursday.
Martin said the gelding knocked his leg and had to be treated, forcing his withdrawal.
AAP TURF
