Tommy Berry’s decision to go into the opening race at Canterbury with a flexible game plan has paid dividends with beautifully bred filly Seascape scrambling home to land an important metropolitan win.
While Berry initially wanted to lead on the headstrong three-year-old, the gusty winds in Sydney gave him pause to reassess his tactics on his way to the starting stalls.
“I actually had a Plan B in mind by the time I got to the gates.,” Berry said.
“That headwind down the back straight is very strong and with her being a bit funny in the barriers and drawing barrier one, I thought, if she comes out a bit steady I’m not going to give her the option to lead. I’ll just take a sit and I’m glad I did.
“The wind was even quite strong while I was in the box seat.”
Tucked away on the fence behind the leader, Seascape was travelling well enough to shoulder her way out on the home turn and sweep to the front, kicking strongly to hold out James Mcdonald on the fast-finishing Maori Chief in Wednesday’s Ranvet Handicap (1200m)
The heavily backed Seascape narrowly holds off Maori Chief in the opener at Canterbury for @MFreedmanRacing and @TommyBerry21.@racing_nsw | @aus_turf_club | @yarramanpark pic.twitter.com/WtnJWB5AZd
— SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) August 28, 2024
“I was aiming to get on my bike as early as I could to try to pinch a break on James,” Berry said.
“I knew his horse would be hitting the line nice and strong late and she was good enough to hold him off.”
Seascape is by leading stallion I Am Invincible out of 2015 Light Fingers Stakes winner Adrift making her a full relation to multiple stakes winner Zarastro.
Sophie Johnson, representing winning trainer Michael Freedman, said the stable didn’t have a set plan for the filly but would look to raise the bar after her midweek win.
“Now she has knocked off another one, we can see where we go from here,” Johnson said.
Paul Murray has Magic Millions carnival aspirations for Harry’s Bar after she showed her rivals a clean pair of heels to break her maiden in the TAB Handicap (1250m).
The four-year-old had finished runner-up at both previous starts but had demonstrated above-average ability since Murray purchased her through an online sale.
The Kembla Grange horseman said he would now spell the mare with a view to a summer campaign.
“There are a couple of nice races in Queensland, one is the Falvelon (Quality) and the Nudgee (Stakes), so we’ll have a crack at that and try to get her a wildcard for the Magic Millions,” Murray said.
“She has been in since March. We took her along slow and I think we’re going to get rewarded later.”
