Seaburge needle in Hayes stack against Hartnell

SEABURGE is one of the outsiders for the Makybe Diva Stakes but trainer David Hayes expects the four-yearold to run better than his price suggests.

The Lindsay Park stable has two runners in today’s Group One 1600m race at Flemington with Seaburge joined by Melbourne Cup hope Ventura Storm. Seaburge is the only runner in the 12-horse field yet to win a Group One race but he has gone close twice.

Hayes anticipates an improved showing on the Memsie Stakes run when he went back to last from a wide barrier and finished at the tail of the field in a race dominated on-speed by stablemate Vega Magic.

Seaburge is at $51 with Godolphin’s star Hartnell the $1.80 favourite ahead of Black Heart Bart at $5.50.

“It’s hard to see anything beating Hartnell but I could see him running a place,” Hayes said of Seaburge.

“He’s got a better barrier this time so he might settle midfield or even a bit closer.

“He might run a lot better than people think.

“His final gallop was superb and I think he’ll step up in it.

“Whether he can beat the top two, that’s to be seen because they are very good horses. But I’d be disappointed if he’s not peppering the goals.”

Seaburge has not won since the Group Two VRC Sires Pro- duce Stakes as a two-year-old but was runner-up in the Group One Caulfield Guineas and Emirates Stakes last spring, before being unplaced in three autumn starts.

“I know he’s got a big race in him,” Hayes said.

Hayes is aiming import Ventura Storm at the Melbourne Cup (3200m) and hasn’t ruled out the Caulfield Cup.

“I would say he’s our number one seed (for the Melbourne Cup),” Hayes said.

Ventura Storm won a 2400m Group One race in Italy last October after his second in the English St Leger.