Seraphox has been forwarded to Melbourne by the Ciaron Maher operation for a Stakes assignment that may broaden horizons for the two-year-old.
He lines up in Saturday’s Listed Anzac Day Stakes (1400m) at Flemington, having raced twice in Sydney with success at Warwick Farm on his most recent occasion.
The stable’s early positive assessment of the colt led to a bold debut in last month’s Group 2 Todman Stakes (1200m) at Rosehill, finishing second last yet only four lengths adrift of victory.
National Assistant Trainer Jack Turnbull of Ciaron Maher Racing expressed optimism about the colt Seraphox.
“He’s a beautiful horse,” Turnbull said.
“It’s the right trip and it’s the right time to bring him down.
“He debuted in a good race on a Saturday in Sydney and did a few things wrong, and then he won his maiden next time around.
“He’s been down here a couple of weeks, and he’s taken to the left-handed direction without a problem.
“He’s a placid animal and has taken no extra work to settle him in, he’s been very natural and very straight forward.
“He will be a very interesting horse because he will continue to get better as he’s only young and whatever he does over 1400 (metres) you can potentially look to the spring, if he takes that step.”
Turnbull revealed plans will be shaped by Seraphox’s run on Saturday, keeping open the prospect of winter racing in Brisbane.
Options there could encompass the Group 2 BRC Sires’ Produce Stakes (1400m) at Eagle Farm May 30 and Group 1 JJ Atkins (1600m) a couple of weeks later.
“There are races in Brisbane if we wanted to push on, or we could put him away and go through the pathway of trying to get him to the (Caulfield) Guineas in the spring,” Turnbull said.
Sydney’s Nialah, a two-year-old who was third on debut in a Wyong maiden, also features in the Anzac Day Stakes.
As Turnbull put it, Nialah was initially a handful but has matured.
“Early in her career she was very fast and fierce, but she’s settled a bit now and we were pleased with how she ran at Wyong,” Turnbull said.
“Joe and the team up there in Sydney were pretty keen to step her up in trip, so she’s come down for an early chance at some Black Type.”
Betting fans should check betting sites for the latest odds on the Anzac Day Stakes showdown.
