Picture: Betfair
Sea King has strolled to a simple victory within the Bendigo Cup at his Australian debut
UK-trained Sea King has emerged as a Melbourne Cup contender after a formidable Australian debut victory at Bendigo.
Success within the Group 3 Bendigo Cup (2400m) on Wednesday qualifies the Harry Eustace-trained stayer for Tuesday’s Group 1 Melbourne Cup (3200m) at Flemington.
Sea King is responsible for a rehandicap for the Melbourne Cup following Wednesday’s victory.
Ridden by Declan Bates, Sea King ($5.50) scored by 3-¾ lengths from Berkeley Sq. ($6) with Star Vega ($11) a head away in third place.
The previous two winners of the Bendigo Cup – Excessive Emocean and Interpretation– went on to compete within the Melbourne Cup six days later – ending third and sixth respectively.
Profitable coach Harry Eustace and managing part-owner Terry Henderson stated the Melbourne Cup had not been on their agenda when Sea King was bought after operating sixth within the UK’s greatest handicap, the Ebor at York in August.
Sea King completed alongside final week’s Group 3 Geelong Cup (2400m) winner Onesmoothoperator within the Ebor.
Onesmoothoperator was penalised 1kg for his victory at Geelong.
Eustace stated the Melbourne Cup 2024 began to return on the radar as horses within the Flemington characteristic started chucking up the sponge.
“Curiously, coming down, we by no means even thought we’d get shut and, after all, since we’ve been right here, the Cup, as everyone seems to be nicely conscious, has actually began slicing up,” Eustace stated.
“So, the nearer we obtained to getting within the extra strain there was I suppose.
“It’s extremely thrilling. Loads was using on it, it’s the final win-and-you’re-in for the Cup, so it’s an absolute dream outcome right now.
“I’d similar to to thank Terry (Henderson) particularly, he managed to purchase this horse simply earlier than Docklands travelled down as nicely and it’s proving a fairly impressed buy.”
Henderson stated Sea King had travelled out to Melbourne primarily as a travelling companion for Docklands, however the gelding had thrived throughout his time in quarantine at Werribee.
Docklands ran fifth to Through Sistina within the Group 1 Cox Plate (2040m) at Moonee Valley final Saturday at his Australian debut.
“The stats of his (Sea King) file throughout trackwork have been nice and it’s a fantastic credit score to Harry and his workforce to current him like this right now,” Henderson stated.
“I believe we most likely obtained extra confidence out of the truth that he was working with a Group 1 horse, and it was terrific to see what the opposite horse (Docklands) did the opposite day, however that Ebor kind is all the time good kind.”
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