Trainer John Thompson believes First Seal is now the complete package as she prepares to return against a star-studded Warwick Stakes field boasting 10 Group One winners.
There was an air of expectation around the Flight Stakes winner in the autumn but she fell frustratingly short when she was narrowly beaten in two major races.
First Seal
Despite those losses, the mare begins her season as the newly crowned NSW Horse of the Year, determined by points for performances in stakes races.
Thompson said she had furnished and returned to work a more rounded horse than the lightly raced filly he saddled up in the autumn.
“She was always a nice big filly and a strong type but she’s more seasoned now that she’s had a couple of racing preparations,” Thompson said.
“She’s a bit more mature.”
First Seal has opened favourite for Saturday’s Group Two Warwick Stakes at $2.60, ahead of Doncaster Mile winner Kermadec at $6 and Godolphin’s It’s Somewhat at $7.50.
Tommy Berry will ride the Thompson-trained mare in a race for the first time with Blake Shinn opting to stick with Cox Plate hopeful Pornichet.
While Berry hasn’t been aboard First Seal on race day, he does have history with the horse and her owners.
“I was the one of the first people to trial her but I wasn’t able to stick with her for that prep,” Berry said.
“I’ve always been good friends with (owners) Mr and Mrs Teo, I rode their first Group One winner over in Singapore with Michael Freedman, so I’ve always had a good connection with them.”
First Seal will be set on an Epsom Handicap path if Sydney’s spring weather stays dry.
If not, she is likely to head to Melbourne for a race like the Toorak Handicap.
Shinn is looking forward to reuniting with Pornichet who he believes has the potential to develop into a top-class weight-for-age horse this spring.
He has ridden the Gai Waterhouse-trained galloper in both his barrier trials and expects Pornichet to sprint well fresh.
“He’s felt really good in the trials. He got back a long way last time, we taught him to settle because I think that’s really important for his future,” Shinn said.
“He hit the line nicely and he should take good improvement out of it and Saturday he should run a really good race.”
