Hayes has high hopes

TRAINER David Hayes believes Seaburge is showing encouraging signs as he prepares the dual Group 1 placegetter for a return to racing after a disappointing spring.

Four-year-old Seaburge has not won since his autumn twoyear-old campaign when he took out the Group 2 VRC Sires Produce Stakes (1400m) at Flemington, his second win in his first three starts.

As a spring three-year-old Seaburge went close to snaring a Group 1, finishing second in both the Caulfield Guineas and Emirates Stakes.

He resumes in tomorrow’s Listed John Dillon Stakes (1400m) at Caulfield under top weight of 60kg, with a view to progressing to the Group 1 CF Orr Stakes and Futurity Stakes if he performs well.

“I’m pretty confident he’s going to have a good autumn,” Hayes said. “He looks great and he’s working well.

“His trackwork is pretty encouraging and I reckon he’ll run well.”