There are high hopes for Irish import Mister Sea Wolf as the gelding prepares for his second Australian start in the Villiers Stakes at Randwick.
The six-year-old moved from Ger Lyons Racing a few months ago to Waller’s Rosehill stable and will line up in the 1600m Group Two Villiers Stakes at Randwick on Saturday.
Waller’s racing manager Charlie Duckworth said the gelding had run “an absolutely cracking race” in his first start for the stable a fortnight ago at Rosehill.
It was a photo-finish between Mister Sea Wolf and Testashadow in the Festival Stakes (1500m), with Mister Sea Wolf finishing second by a nose.
Kerrin McEvoy will take the ride on Saturday and had rave reviews for Mister Sea Wolf after partnering him at trackwork earlier this week.
“He said he was a real trier and very genuine horse,” Duckworth said on the stable’s weekly video.
“He’s certainly got every chance on Saturday to take out a Group Two on only his second Australian start.”
Mister Sea Wolf is the second favourite for the Villiers Stakes behind Godolphin horse Interlocuter.
But Waller looks unlikely to score his first win in the Razor Sharp Handicap (1200m) on Saturday, as the right ingredients are not there for Japonisme.
The gelding has drawn barrier 10 and Duckworth says 1200m may be too sharp for the five-year-old at this stage in his career.
“There is a 1400 metre race next Saturday. We might well wait and send him there instead,” he said.
