The Robbie Griffiths-trained Sea Trader is set to make his racing debut at Sandown on Wednesday, having accepted for the 1300m 3yo Maiden (Race 1 at 1.15 pm).
The son of Hanseatic has been an eye-catcher around the trial circuit over the last month, having enjoyed positive experiences at Bendigo and Pakenham during August. He gained strong attention from the racing industry in the Bendigo edition, coming from a long last at the 450m to win the trial running away. It was a trial performance you don’t often see.
Sea Trader wins his trial at Bendigo (OTI silks).
He franked the Bendigo trial with another most encouraging performance at Pakenham, again flashing down the outside to win in good style. Almost black in colour, this 3yo colt will surely have his admirers on his race debut.
A positive run on Saturday could see Sea Trader venture to black-type company second-up, with the 1600m Group 2 Stutt Stakes at The Valley on Grand Final Eve pencilled into his race campaign pending Wednesday’s performance. He will also be nominated for the 1600m Group 1 Caulfield Guineas in October, which would be a third-up run should he prove up to the challenge.
Sea Trader may be joined in Wednesday’s race by Cinturato, the Mark Walker-trained son of Shamus Award. With highly promising trial performance behind him, Cinturato was sent out as a short-priced favourite on debut at Sale in August but could only manage a 3rd placing on that occasion. However, he is sure to be better suited for a longer journey and with race experience in hand.