A failed vet test after being sold to Hong Kong after his maiden win could potentially pave the way to a Group 1 win in Australia for Sepals.
Hong Kong agents came knocking after Sepals scored at Sale last month with more offers after he was successful at Sandown on January 29.
But with vets knocking back the gelding for his future in Hong Kong, Sepals has remained in trainer Cliff Brown’s care at Mornington and is now the winner of the Group 3 C S Hayes Stakes (1400m) at Flemington on Saturday.
Now the Group 1 Australian Guineas (1600m) at Flemington on March 1 beckons for Sepals who firmed into $8 equal second favourite behind the $4 top elect Angel Capital with online betting sites.
Ridden by Blake Shinn, Sepals ($7.50) registered an impressive 3-¼ length victory from Ndola ($18) with Feroce ($4.40) a neck away third in Saturday’s Guineas lead up.
Stable representative Tony Lane said the team was unsure how Sepals would handle the downgraded track conditions.
“He’s just gone ahead leaps and bounds in the last month-and-a-half and I don’t think the ceilings even there yet,” Lane said
“But he’s always shown enough at home.
“We raced his mum, What’s New, up in Singapore. She won two legs of the Triple Crown up there and was probably unlucky not to win the Derby up there as well.”
Shinn was high in his praise for Sepals who was able to dominate the race and said Sepals handled the Soft 7 track impressively.
“It was a dominant win,” Shinn said.
“He had a lovely draw in barrier one, he switched off beautifully and everything presented for him, but he had to capitalise, and it was such an impressive win.
“He paraded really, really well. He’s got a great mind and when I asked him to extend in the gap at 300 (metres), he really exploded well.”
“A lot of these horses are probably a bit unknown on the ground, but he handled it really well.”
Shinn said after capturing the C S Hayes Stakes, the Australian Guineas in two weeks’ time was a worthwhile race to have a shot at.
“On that performance I guess you’ve got to have a throw at the stumps,” Shinn said.
“We can all dare to dream he might be a Guineas winner.”
The Lindsay Park team of Ben, Will and J D Hayes will have to wait another year in their bid to win the race named after their grandfather Colin Hayes with Ndola running a brave second from the widest draw.
