Randwick trainer John O’Shea is happy with where his triple Group 1 winning mare Sea Siren is at as she prepares for her first international trip for next month’s 2012 Hong Kong Sprint.
Sea Siren will contest the 2012 Hong Kong Sprint in two weeks' time
The four-year-old daughter of Fastnet Rock saluted in her third elite level race first-up at Moonee Valley on October 26, Sea Siren adding the Manikato Stakes to her Group 1 BTC Cup – Doomben 10,000 double from the winter.
Despite a brave performance second-up at Flemington on Emirates Stakes Day, November 10, Sea Siren failed to add a fourth Group 1 win to her record when crossing three quarters of a length away second to the Peter Snowden-trained Mental in the Patinack Farm Classic (1200m).
That performance and her progression since has O’Shea confident of a good showing when Sea Siren races at the Hong Kong International Race Day on December 9 where over AUS$9 million will be on offer.
Her target at the meeting is the HK $15 million Longines Hong Kong Sprint (1200m) where she will come face to face with the likes of last start Jockey Club Sprint winner Lucky Nine, John Moore’s runner-up in the same race Time After Time and Lord Kanaloa.
If successful, as the Aussie bookies are predicting she will be in their early Hong Kong International Sprint betting markets, she will be the first Australian-trained horse since Falvelon to win the race back-to-back in 2000 and 2001.
Falvelon went on to run third to the then David Hayes-trained All Thrills Too, the last Australian horse to run top three in the event since.
Sea Siren leaves for Hong Kong today from Melbourne, as will Mackinnon Stakes winner Alcopop who is after the Hong Kong International Cup crown, and had her final piece of work on home soil at Moonee Valley on Saturday which O’Shea was happy with.
“She worked beautifully and is at the top of her game,” O’Shea said.
“It was a good hitout although she wasn’t asked to do a great deal.
“She has had a great preparation and is fit and ready. Obviously the next two weeks will be crucial but I think she is the right sort of horse to take to Hong Kong.
“She eats well and cops everything we throw at her. She is a tough mare and I couldn’t be happier.”
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