OTI Racing has identified Group 1 autumn targets in Sydney and a Queensland Winter Carnival campaign with Bendigo Cup winner Sea King, who will remain in Australia following his run in the Melbourne Cup under the care of Matthew Dunn.
Sea King wins the G3 Bendigo Cup.
The son of Sea The Stars finished 14th as a $12 chance for English trainer Harry Eustace in the Cup after settling last and being forced to make a wide run around the field but OTI’s Terry Henderson said connections are already looking to 2025.
“We were a bit disappointed we were so far back,” Henderson admitted.
“But he will likely have a late-winter preparation heading towards a Queensland Carnival I would think.
“He would be a nice Tancred horse heading towards a Sydney Cup, as well as he does have a little bit of form on wetter ground.
“But primarily I think we would be using the autumn to acclimatise and get him to hopefully be back next spring.”
Henderson said Dunn, who trains at Murwillumbah in New South Wales, had done a great job with another import, Cepheus, and deserves the chance with the stayer, who OTI purchased only two months ago.
Dunn travelled down to Melbourne on Monday to see the horse and gain any insight from Eustace on the galloper before taking over his training.
The gelding arrived well in Sydney with Matthew Dunn over the weekend and could potentially continue his preparation towards the Christmas Cup, before heading for a well-deserved spell.
Sea King had won five races in the UK with Sir Mark Prescott, ranging from 2050 to 2639m, and placed sixth in the Ebor Handicap before finding his way to Australia.
The above is an excerpt from Ben Sporle’s Racing.com article and can be read in full here.