The flying Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott-trained mare Sedanzer will step back up to black-type class for the Group 3 $150,000 Belle Of The Turf Stakes (1600m) at Gosford next start after success in Sydney over the weekend.
Sedanzer targets the Belle Of The Turf Stakes next up at Gosford Racecourse. Photo: Steve Hart.
Taking her impressive spring – summer winning streak to three on the trot, the four-year-old daughter of Sebring was an impressive two length winner in the $100,000 Right2Drive Handicap (1600m) on Villiers Stakes Day at Royal Randwick.
Carrying 57.5kg to victory as the $2.50 favourite, Sedanzer easily accounted for the Chris Waller-trained stablemates Zourkhan (2nd) and Xebec (3rd) in the BenchMark 84 Handicap giving the weight away to her rivals.
The Saturday victory followed back-to-back Rosehill wins over 1400m and 1500m respectively and apprentice Rachael King has been aboard for the trio of victories.
The in-form King had Sedanzer settled three-wide throughout on Saturday with cover, the eventual winner dominating the race late running down the centre of the track in an eye-catching finish.
Overall Sedanzer has now had a dozen career starts for a winning strike rate of 50%.
As a three-year-old filly earlier in the year she was thrice tested in Group company without a win.
That included her close fifth when just over two lengths beaten by the Waller-trained Egg Tart in the Group 1 Schweppes Oaks (2010m) at Morphettville in S.A.
She also took on the colts and geldings in Adelaide next-up but things went amiss and Sedanzer walked home second last running 13th behind Volatile Mix in the Group 1 SA Derby (2500m) in mid-May.
Co-trainer Bott is confident the mare is back to her best now and deserves another shot at a Group win in the Belle Of The Turf Stakes on December 28.
“Our plan for her this campaign has been all about the Belle of the Turf Stakes,” he told The Daily Telegraph.
“It is a fillies’ and mares’ race over the right distance for Sedanzer.
”Rachel [King] is riding her with great confidence, the horse is racing in great confidence; they go well together.”
Bott also said the Tulloch Lodge team had not ruled out a trip to Queensland on January 13 for a shot at one of the lucrative Restricted Magic Millions Race Day features at the Gold Coast Racecourse.
“When mares are in form, you try to capitalise on it and we have let her race through the grades,” he said.
“We haven’t set any plans beyond Gosford but she is a Magic Millions horse so that is an option, too.”
