Evergreen jockey Jim Cassidy rode an inspired race to return to the Group 1 winner’s list when Sea Siren took out the $400,000 Bundaberg Distilling Co. BTC Cup (1200m) at Doomben today.
At only her sixth race start Sea Siren was able to take out the WFA feature race in the smart time of 1.8.1s after Chris Munce on Adebisi set up a sizzling pace.
Cassidy was happy to let Adebisi cross over from an outside barrier and set the tempo and just waited his time until pouncing in the straight to score a clear cut victory.
Trainer John O’Shea has a high opinion of the filly and decided to bring her to Brisbane after defeating subsequent ATC Oaks winner Streama in the Group 2 $175,000 Patinack Farm Light Fingers Stakes (1200m) at Warwick Farm on February 18.
O’Shea will now push onto the Group 1 $650,000 Carlton Mid Doomben 10,000 (1350m) at Doomben in a fortnight at weight for age again and then on to the Group 1 $1m AAMI Stradbroke Handicap (1400m) at Eagle Farm on June 9.
“Every time I’ve asked her to do something she has stepped up to the plate,” O’Shea said.
“She’s a credit to her sire, a credit to her family and a credit to the people who bred her.”
Owner Keith Biggs was also quick to praise the filly on her Group 1 win at her first attempt in open grade at WFA.
“She’ll be spot on for the Stradbroke in four weeks time,” Biggs said.
Cassidy was thrilled to be on another Group 1 winner and looking forward to the next month even though he will have to waste hard to get the filly’s weight in the Stradbroke.
“It’s a great thrill,” Cassidy said.
“It’s been a while between Group 1s but couldn’t have happened for better people in Keith Biggs and John O’Shea. What a training performance, she came from restricted class in Sydney to take on Streama, a Group 1 filly, a great training performance.”
“She’ll get 51.5kg in the Stradbroke and I’ll be doing it a little bit tough, but I found another good one but it will be worth it.”
Cassidy was very confidence going into today’s race after riding her at her last two starts and O’Shea said that she had done well since being in Brisbane.
Trainer Peter Snowden was very pleased with the effort of Beaded who showed some of her best form in running third just behind Scenic Blast who showed his is not a spent force with his strong finishing second.
The Robert Heathcote trained Woorim ended up the $6 favourite after stable mate Buffering scratched because of a hoof injury but raced in his usual position at the tail of the field and was unable to make up enough ground to finish seventh.
Sea Siren was sent out at $7.50 and is certain to shorten dramatically in Stradbroke betting.
