Chris Waller will learn if he has inherited another handy European import when Mister Sea Wolf adds the element of unknown to his three-pronged assault on the Group Three Festival Stakes.
While Japonisme and Good Project are seasoned domestic performers, Mister Sea Wolf has only stepped out in a barrier trial before starting his Australian career in Saturday’s feature at Rosehill.
Originally trained in England by Michael Dods, Mister Sea Wolf relocated from Ger Lyons’ Irish stable in August after Peter Tighe’s Magic Bloodstock Racing, a shareholder in champion Winx, bought into the six-year-old.
Waller, who has already successfully introduced former stayer Alward to Australian racing from France this season, again tempered expectations about a recent arrival’s first start in a new environment.
“I always like to see a run or two with these horses but he’s settled in well and his trial was good,” Waller said on his online stable update.
“He’s got a bit of class about him and his form in Ireland is actually very good.”
He recorded half of his six career wins in Ireland, including victory over 1603-metres at the Curragh in May.
Although Waller has not set the bar high for Mister Sea Wolf first-up he is mapping out a campaign towards the Group One Doncaster Mile (1600m) in April.
Ideally Mister Sea Wolf will progress from the Group Three Festival Stakes (1500m) to the Group Two Villiers Stakes (1600m) at Randwick on December 16 with the winner guaranteed a start in the Doncaster.
“I’d say he’d run a cheeky race. He’ll be cheery ripe for the Villiers and then we’ll give him a short break to get him ready for the late autumn races,” Waller said.
Mister Sea Wolf ($5) was on the third line of betting with the TAB on Friday behind Cabeza De Vaca ($2.70) and Federal ($4.80).
Good Project and Japonisme were listed at $11 and $14 respectively, a reflection of the duo’s current form.
A Group One winner in the 2015 Railway Stakes (1600m), Good Project’s last top-three placing was a second in the same race a year ago.
Japonisme jumps from barrier one with gear changes designed to facilitate his first win since the Group Two Arrowfield 3YO Sprint (1200m) in May last year.
“We’ve changed a few things with his gear, a cross-over nose band and a tongue tie on,” Waller said.
