Talented filly Ocean Embers has returned to racing in style at Caulfield to the relief of her trainer Shea Eden.
Ocean Embers stepped out for Saturday’s Sheen Group Plate (1100m) for her first start since undergoing a throat operation after last year’s spring carnival.
Carrying $10 to $8.50 support, Ocean Embers travelled with cover in the three-wide running line before making her charge down the outside in the straight under apprentice Regan Bayliss.
Ocean Embers powered to a 1-1/2 length win over Carterista ($51) with another 1-1/4 lengths to Lady Esprit ($4.60) third.
After winning on debut at Bendigo last September, Ocean Embers stepped to stakes racing and finished fifth and sixth respectively in her two starts at Group Three level against her own age and sex.
Connections then decided it was best for the three-year-old filly to have throat surgery to try to correct a breathing issue.
“There was no hiding we thought she was a really handy filly last spring and unfortunately things just went a little bit pear-shaped,” Eden said.
“But with the support of the owners she had the operation done, we gave her a nice spell, brought her back and her work has been good.
“She worked really well on Tuesday and after that gallop we knew we were going to the right race.”
Eden said it was a shame almost all of the stakes races for three-year-olds were now finished for the season, but there is the option of taking Ocean Embers to Adelaide for the Listed Lightning Stakes (1050m) at the end of the month.
“It’s the last hurrah for any black-type races for three-year-olds,” he said.
Eden, 35, said it was a huge relief seeing the filly return a winner.
“When James Winks was riding her last spring he said `she’s a Group horse every day of the week’,” he said.
Mick Price prepared a winning double at the meeting with Duke Of Brunswick and two-year-old Yu Long Sheng Hui while Dwayne Dunn maintains a five-win lead over Craig Williams in the Melbourne jockeys’ premiership after both rode two winners on Saturday.
Williams got home aboard Makatiti and Hursley while Dunn won aboard Longeron and Duke Of Brunswick.
