Trainer John Moloney is confident that Sea Spray will get over a staying trip in the autumn and believes that the 2015 Australasian Oaks could be a nice race for the promising filly.
Sea Spray may be given the opportunity to make her Group 1 debut in the 2015 Australasian Oaks in Adelaide. Photo by: Race Horse Photos Australia
Sea Spray has not had a race start over a distance greater than 1400 metres since she made her racing debut over 900 metres in April of last year, but Moloney told Racing Ahead this morning that the Von Costa De Hero filly will be given an opportunity over greater distances during the 2015 Melbourne Festival Of Racing and could head to Adelaide for the Group 1 Australasian Oaks (2000m) at Morphettville on May 2 if her form warrants the trip.
“I don’t know how far she will go in distances, but she gives me the feeling she can get over some ground,” Moloney said.
“It is aiming a little high, but maybe the Oaks In Adelaide could be a nice race for her if she comes up in good fashion.”
Sea Spray started her 2014 Spring Racing Carnival campaign with a win at Kyneton and she did plenty wrong when she finished second in the Cleanaway Slow Down Handicap (1200m) at Moonee Valley on October 3 before she scored the biggest win of her career to date in the Yellowglen Plate (1400m) at Caulfield on October 18.
The three-year-old looked as though she was going to record a maiden win at black type level when she hit the front in the Listed Lexus Hybrid Plate (1400m) at Flemington on Melbourne Cup Day, but she was unable to go with Hijack Hussy in the final stages of the race.
Sea Spray was sent to the spelling paddock straight after that run and Moloney said that the filly has developed both mentally and physically during her stint away from her stable at Caulfield.
“She has done four weeks of pre-training and comes back into the stable today,” Moloney said.
“It is the best that she has ever spelled out in a paddock and she improved so much just in her paddock spell, which is great.
“You could probably have high hopes with her and she is a good galloper.
“She is still green as you could see at Flemington; she hit the front and then she ducked back in and Hijack Hussy was able to overtake her coming forward, but with strength and a bit of maturity those things might not happen and she becomes a better horse because of that.”
Sea Spray was purchased for $75,000 at the 2013 Inglis VOBIS Gold Yearling Sale and has already accumulated over $110,000 in prizemoney for connections.
