Imported galloper King Of The Sea has signalled his potential as a spring stayer with a dominant first-up win at Randwick, prompting trainer Ciaron Maher to consider significant targets.
This was the former UK stayer’s second campaign run in Australia, and he put on a show. He unleashed a powerful finishing burst from the rear of the field to claim the Drinkwise Mile (1600m) on Saturday.
Jo Gerard-Dubord, foreman of Maher’s Sydney stable, indicated that the five-year-old had a bright future. However, the extent of his progression this season would hinge on his subsequent performances.
“He’s a horse with plenty of talent. He didn’t have a lot of luck last preparation, but the form out of his races has been very strong since, and there’s a lot more to come,” Gerard-Dubord stated.
“He is still lowly rated, so we probably need to see what he does next start. There are plenty of options.
“Whether we target a race like the ‘Metrop’ (Metropolitan) here. You’ve got a Naturalism (Stakes) down in Melbourne to try to get into a Caulfield Cup.
“When they’ve got a turn of foot like that, for a horse that can stay and do that over a mile, it’s very exciting.”
The victory marked King Of The Sea’s fourth win from ten starts and his first on Australian soil.
Ridden by James Mcdonald, the gelding, who was the firm $1.80 favourite, triumphed by a clear 1-3/4 lengths. Puntin ($9) secured second place, with Anthracite ($15) a further half-neck behind in third. Punters using the best horse racing betting apps witnessed the short-priced favourite deliver an impressive first-up victory.
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