An altered program because of the coronavirus pandemic that has shut down some state borders has resulted in Seabrook (NZ) (Hinchinbrook) remaining in Melbourne chasing an overdue win.
Mick Price, who trains Seabrook in partnership with Mick Kent Jr, was planning to race Seabrook in Sydney on the way to a campaign in Brisbane.
But with the Brisbane winter carnival abandoned, Price has revised options and will start Seabrook in Saturday’s Gr.3 Elvis Thurgood 40th Anniversary Cup (1400m) at Caulfield.
Saturday’s race is the 40th anniversary of Thurgood’s fall from Taras Regent in the Easter Cup, also run on Saturday, that left the jockey a quadriplegic with a severe brain injury.
He has been cared for by his parents Noel and Doris since and last year had his 60th birthday.
For Seabrook, success on Saturday would snap a losing streak, having not won since the Gr.1 Champagne Stakes (1600m) at Randwick in April 2018.
After a Sydney and Brisbane campaign last year, Seabrook missed the spring with a gut illness which Price said needed careful attention.
The break has revitalised Seabrook who returned finishing third behind Diamond Effort (Mossman) and Runson (Delzao) in the Listed Hareeba Stakes (1200m) at Mornington on March 21.
“It was good she had a good spell because her run in the Hareeba was excellent and its indicative of a good prep to come,” Price said.
“She had a tough two-year-old year only because she had no luck in a couple of races and I persevered thinking there was a Group One win in her, which she did win.
“That values her at $1 million and I wouldn’t take that back.
“We tried her to get 2000 metres because she’s out of a Don Eduardo mare, but that didn’t work so we’ve brought her back to being a sprinter, 1400-metre horse that she is.”
Price said he had been looking at Brisbane and was considering entering Seabrook in the Magic Millions June broodmare sale.
“But COVID-19 has made that messy, so we’ll just concentrate on what we’re doing,” Price said.
“She’s a happy mare, she’s drawn a good gate to get the run of the race and I think she’s a very good chance to run in the top four.”
