Seal surprise: The John Thompson-trained First Seal upset the undefeated Winx (Street Cry) and the Group 1 winner Earthquake (Exceed And Excel) to land a three-quarters of a length win in the Group 2 Coolmore Tea Rose Stakes for three-year-old fillies at Rosehill last Saturday. “She is untapped, a very high class filly and hopefully she can go on to bigger and better things,” said Thompson. “Once she gets over those classic distances she will really come to the fore.” A $700,000 yearling at the New Zealand Bloodstock Premier Yearling Sale, First Seal is the 66th Stakes winner for her sire Fastnet Rock.

Hayes heralds return: David Hayes and his co-trainer and nephew Tom Dabernig emphasised how well their Flemington and Euroa operation has found its rhythm with four winners at Caulfield on Saturday including the Group 3 Sprint Series Heat 2 Stakes with the Churchill Downs mare Girl Guide. “We just didn’t have the stock. We have our systems in place now,” said Hayes reflecting on the lean period that the stable endured last spring.