Expensive purchase looks to have a bright future.
Seacruiser, a son of Sea The Stars, gave his connections plenty to dream about after securing his maiden victory in the Rossdales British EBF Maiden Stakes at Newmarket. Trained by Ralph Beckett and ridden by Rossa Ryan, the colt made every yard count, holding off Charlie Appleby’s Present Times by a length and a quarter. Following a troubled debut at Goodwood, Seacruiser returned as the 11-8 favourite, and this time, he encountered no traffic issues on his way to victory.
Although bookmakers left Seacruiser unchanged at 50-1 for next year's Derby, connections are already looking ahead to his 2024 campaign. Racing manager Jamie McCalmont suggested that Seacruiser will likely be put away for the remainder of this season.
𝐒𝐞𝐚𝐜𝐫𝐮𝐢𝐬𝐞𝐫 sets sail @NewmarketRace 🚢
A 30th juvenile winner of the season for the relentless @RalphBeckett 🔥
Runner-up Present Times one for the tracker 👀 pic.twitter.com/GqkRCu2xJA
— Racing TV (@RacingTV) September 26, 2024
"He was always going to be next year's horse," McCalmont said. "We will probably put him away now and begin to dream about different things. I'm just really pleased to see him win today."
Elsewhere, Charlie Appleby's Olympus Point justified his favouritism at 6-4 in the Federation Of Bloodstock Agents Nursery Handicap. The son of Earthlight, under William Buick, relished both the step up to a mile and the softer ground, registering his first victory after placing in his previous three starts.
Appleby’s assistant trainer, Alex Merriam, was pleased with the performance, saying, "Stepping up to a mile seems to have helped him. Hopefully, now he has got his head in front, he will keep progressing."
Meanwhile, trainer Grant Tuer and jockey Sam James enjoyed back-to-back handicap success with Sophia’s Starlight, who clinched the British Stallion Studs EBF Premier Fillies’ Handicap. The four-year-old filly displayed resilience to fend off challengers, marking her first win since last season’s Great St Wilfrid.
