Sidelined through injury at the end of her three year-old season with a foot
issue that required surgery, her trainer John Thompson has been forced to be
patient in the extreme and his efforts are paying off.At her second run back from a spell, First Seal surged late to score a short neck win in the 1400 metre mares sprint, her sixth win from 17 starts with earnings topping $1.2 million.
"I'm very lucky the China Horse Club let me keep her going. She's a Group I winner by Fastnet Rock, it would have been easy to retire her,' said Thompson.
"We've just taken her run by run but it's good to see her come back to winning form.
"She's a big gross mare - I can't work her hard enough at home and she takes a bit of getting fit.
"I know there is more to come with her so we press on now to the Myer Classic over the Flemington carnival and it would be fantastic if she can add another Group One to her record."
A $700,000 NZB Premier purchase from the Curraghmore Stud draft for the late Bart Cummings, First Seal runs for the China Horse Club.
Bred by Raffles Dancers, First Seal is a three-quarter sister to Group II STC Tulloch Stakes winner Book of Kells and is from Episode, who won both the Group I SAJC Australasian Oaks and South Australian Oaks as well as finishing second in the Queensland Oaks.
