Sepals’ potential Group 1 success in Australia comes after a failed vet test when he was sold to Hong Kong, keeping him in Cliff Brown’s care at Mornington.

The gelding’s impressive form has been rewarded with a win in the Group 3 C S Hayes Stakes (1400m) at Flemington on Saturday, following victories at Sale and Sandown in recent months.

The Group 1 Australian Guineas (1600m) at Flemington on March 1 is now on the horizon for Sepals, who has firmed into $8 equal second favourite behind Angel Capital ($4) with online betting sites.

Ridden by Blake Shinn, Sepals ($7.50) won by 3-¼ lengths from Ndola ($18), with Feroce ($4.40) third in Saturday’s race.

Tony Lane, stable representative, expressed confidence in Sepals’ rapid improvement, stating the gelding had “gone ahead leaps and bounds.”

Shinn was full of praise for Sepals, noting the gelding’s relaxed nature and explosive finishing power despite the Soft 7 track conditions.

“He handled it really well,” Shinn said. “It was a dominant win. He’s got a great mind, and when I asked him to extend, he really exploded.”

With the C S Hayes Stakes win under his belt, Shinn believes Sepals should take aim at the Australian Guineas in two weeks’ time.

Ndola, trained by the Lindsay Park team, ran a brave second but will have to wait another year for a shot at the race named after their grandfather, Colin Hayes.