Trainer Mick Price looks to have uncovered a nice Golden Slipper type filly in Seabrook who did it tough but came away victorious in her Sydney debut on Saturday in the 2018 Sweet Embrace Stakes.

Sweet Embrace Stakes winner Seabrook has “Slipper written all over her” according to jockey Hugh Bowman. Photo: Steve Hart.

Adding more interest to this season’s running of the Group 1 $3.5 million Golden Slipper Stakes (1200m) at Rosehill Gardens on March 24 is the now confirmed inclusion of Victorian raider Seabrook.

The well-bred daughter of Hinchinbrook is trained in Melbourne by the Caulfield-based Price and was tipped early-on by connections as a chance for last month’s Group 1 Ladbrokes Blue Diamond Stakes (1200m).

Luckless first-up at her home track on February 10 when third to Enbihaar in the Group 2 Blue diamond Fillies Prelude (1100m) only three-quarters of a length beaten, Seabrook missed out on her chance in the Group 1.

That could now prove a blessing in disguise as she earned her Golden Slipper ballot exemption at Royal Randwick on Chipping Norton Stakes Day in the Group 2 $200,000 Sweet Embrace Stakes (1200m).

Drawn out wide and jumping form barrier 10 (of 12), Seabrook was ridden by Winx’s regular rider Hugh Bowman as she saw the Sydney way of racing for the first time.

She didn’t exactly get a dream run in transit either, planted deep midfield and out wide as the field was led around by the returning Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott-trained Group 3 winner Setsuna.

Setsuna was giving the fitness away but set the pace as six-time Golden Slipper winning trainer Waterhouse chased a double following the narrow win by Santos in the Skyline Stakes for the colts and geldings one race earlier.

Setsuna held a narrow lead from the Gerald Ryan-trained Adamina, ridden by Skyline Stakes winning jockey Tim Clark, and the John Thompson-trained Into The Abyss who was also up on the pace after jumping from the outside barrier second-up.

Chris Waller’s Group 3 Widden Stakes winner first-up and the narrow Sweet Embrace Stakes favourite Fiesta meanwhile sat midfield without cover before jockey Kerrin McEvoy sent her forward heading into the turn for home.

Setsuna led into the turn, but was quickly tackled by nicely-bred Foxwedge filly Into The Abyss as Fiesta and Seabrook were also closing fast.

Fiesta hit the lead and it was her and Seabrook fighting it out in a thrilling finish.

All honours in the end went to the gutsy Bowman ride aboard the talented Seabrook ($8) who wore down the favourite Fiesta ($4.40) to salute as Into The Abyss ($20) held for third just ahead of Setsuna ($10).

“This horse showed her class the final bit,” Bowman said post-win.

“She had to do it the hard way from an awkward draw in testing conditions today.

“I think she’ll improve a lot off the experience of running here.

“She had to do it hard and she was tough late.

“Shas Slipper written all over her.”

Winning from down the outside and showing plenty of potential, Seabrook posted a faster time of 1:10.96 than the boys in the Skyline Stakes, including a final 200m sectional of 12:06 compared to Santos’s 12.76 seconds.

Seabrook has now firmed into $15 from $15 in pre-field Golden Slipper Stakes odds at Ladbrokes.com.au to become the first winner of that race out of the Sweet Embrace Stakes since Crystal Lily did the double back in 2010.

2018 Sweet Embrace Stakes Results & Finishing Order

Randwick Race 4 – 03/03/2018