Racing: Seabrook flies flag in Oz

The Mick Price-trained Seabrook confirmed her place in the Slipper with her Randwick victory. Photo / Bradley Photography

An inspired purchase has New Zealand interest in the world's richest two-year-old race centred on Seabrook.

The Mick Price-trained filly goes into Saturday's A$3.5 million Gr.1 Golden Slipper (1200m) at Rosehill as a strong contender following her last-start win in the Gr.2 Sweet Embrace Stakes (1200m) at Randwick.

The Kiwi-bred youngster is out of Don Eduardo's unraced daughter Midnight Revels, who was purchased in foal to Hinchinbrook by Tauranga breeder Warwick Jeffries.

"I bought the mare through Brett Howard's Randwick Bloodstock Agency three years ago," he said.

"I liked the pedigree and at that stage Hinchinbrook was unproven, but he was a Group winner and a half-brother to Snitzel by Fastnet Rock - I thought he was a good chance at stud.

"Seabrook always had a gorgeous temperament and she was a big, strong early-maturing filly.

"The mare's by Don Eduardo, who's got that blueblood, and the female side is all speed."

A half-sister to the Group Three-winning juvenile My Emotion, Midnight Revels is from the family of the Group One-winning sprinter Malaguerra and the stakes-winning two-year-olds Tennessee Morn and Tennessee Midnight.

"The Slipper's a tough 1200m and hopefully she gets a clear run and is challenging hard in the last 100m. It wouldn't be the worst thing if she drew out a bit," Jeffries said.

She will be bidding to become the first New Zealand-bred to win the Golden Slipper since Pompeii Court's daughter Courtza was successful in 1989. Jeffries sold Seabrook for A$85,000 at a Melbourne sale and has subsequently sent Midnight Revels to Proisir. "That's what I bought her for, I've got a share in the stallion," he said.

Jeffries sold a colt by the Rich Hill Stud resident at Karaka earlier this year for $100,000.

"I've got the full-brother in the paddock and he's a beauty," he said. "The mare's empty and I'll have a think where she'll go later this year. Whatever happens on Saturday, Seabrook's done a good job with a Group Two win."

Hugh Bowman rode Seabrook to win the Sweet Embrace, but she will have a change of rider on Saturday with Damien Oliver booked.

- NZ Racing Desk