Kensington preview: Trainer Danielle Seib has a Group 1 goal for her promising young stayer

Trainer Danielle Seib has always had a high opinion of progressive three-year-old Cable Express and has her eyes on a Group 1 if he comes through his next challenge.

Cable Express is on trial of a crack at the Queensland Derby when he heads to Randwick-Kensington on Wednesday. Picture: Bradley Photos

Exciting young stayer Cable Express continues to meet each challenge trainer Danielle Seib throws at him and big plans could be afoot if he performs to expectations on the Randwick-Kensington meeting.

The three-year-old toughed out a game win in the Guineas Prelude over 1400m at Wagga on April 21 before a gallant second to Invincible Spy in the MTC Guineas over 1600m 12 days later.

Cable Express now takes on the older horse as he steps up to 1800m in the Hitotsu @ Arrowfield Handicap.

“He’s a really nice horse. We have kept raising the bear and he has kept jumping it,” said Seib.

Invincible Spy goes all the way to take out the MTC Guineas at Wagga! @[e-mail]/ejaJAYaqt7

— SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) May 3, 2024

“Danny Beasley can’t speak highly enough of how much he continues to improve with each run both in ability and race sense.

“He jumps well from the gates, puts himself up on the speed, he comes back under Danny and travels kindly then gives a good kick and keeps finding.

“At Wagga, in front was he place to be and with one of Gai (Waterhouse) and Adrian’s (Bott) in that role, he chased it and gave it really good shake.

“He is certainly one to watch and is one horse we have some good plans for is he can take that next step.”

A bold performance this week could earn the son of Cable Bay a trip to Queensland.

“He has a nomination for the Queensland Derby so we want to see him show that he is up to the mark with another big run this week and he could continue on a path towards that race,” she said.

“He has shown he can come from last and has raced up on the speed.

“Ideally, I think he will be even better when he gets a horse to follow. I think we will see him improve even more.

“I think he might get that opportunity this week from gate four.”

Seib is also excited by the progression of her two-year-old, Due Calzini.

❄️ Not sure about snow in May... but winning in May for sure! ✅

Snow In May wins the opener for the 2 year-olds at @mtcwagga!@[e-mail]/1mJNk19Uob

— SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) May 2, 2024

The gelding gave a glimpse of his talent when he beat Switzerland in a barrier trial at Warwick Farm back in January and has since placed in two of his three starts.

“He is a really nice horse but is just taking a while to put it all together,” Seib said.

“He has been there physically for a while and we saw him trial really well against Switzerland but he went to the races and did a bit wrong. He is just taking a little while to figure it out mentally.”

The son of D’Argento was good in closing strongly for second behind Snow In May at Wagga last start and will give a bold sight in the opening race, the Golden Mile @ Darley Handicap (1400m) if he gains a start as he is the second emergency.

“He is another one who is a genuine chance on the Kensington this week. The 1400m will definitely suit him,” she said.

“He too could head to Queensland for a race like The Phoenix if he was to win this week.”

Joining this pair for the trip to Sydney is handy mare Amarantz who resumes in the Ole Kirk First Yearlings Handicap (1250m).

The five-year-old will be better as she gets out over further in his campaign but the wet track brings her into calculations.

“She has had quite a bit of work and a jumpout in readiness for this,” said Seib.

“She has quite a tricky country benchmark but this looks like a nice starting point for her.

“She will relish the track and is not without an each-way chance.”

MCEVOYS CHASE WET TRACK TO GET DUO BACK TO WINNING FORM

Father and son training team, Tony and Calvin McEvoy are expecting both Bill The Boxer and Naiconi to bounce back to form when they head to the Randwick-Kensington meeting.

The pair weren’t seen at their best at the same Caulfield meeting last month but a heavy track after the recent rain in Sydney is tailor-made for the pair.

Bill The Boxer sat behind the speed but didn’t run on as expected on the Good 4, eventually finishing eleventh behind Awapuni Express.

“He just didn’t stretch out. The ground was firmer than we wanted and he needs soft ground,” said Tony McEvoy.

“That’s why we are coming to Sydney. We just can’t seem to get a soft track in Melbourne.”

That was his first run in almost 12 months after finishing down the track in the Listed Wangoom at Warrnambool last year.

.@mcevoymitchell’s Bill The Boxer storms home late to close the card at @SAJockeyClub 👏 pic.twitter.com/bNPajn3qgw

— Racing SA (@RacingSA) December 17, 2021

He will relished the Heavy conditions when he lines up in the Benchmark 72 Handicap (1250m).

“Off that run, it is bit of a risk taking him to Sydney but on his trackwork, it’s not. He has come through the run very well,” McEvoy said.

“The horse seems to be the normal Bill The Boxer to us at home and going better than he ran at Caulfield.

“He’s a better horse than a benchmark horse and I’m hoping he can bounce back with conditions to suit.

“He’s drawn nicely in barrier two and has Nash Rawiller on top. It’s doesn’t get much better than that.”

Lightly-raced mare Naiconi also struggled on the firm Caulfield track after a nice win at Sandown-Lakeside at her first run in 17 months.

McEvoy feels she is she is certainly capable of bouncing back in the Benchmark 78 Handicap (1400m).

“Her last run at Caulfield was the same day Bill The Boxed ran and the track was just too firm for her also,” he said.

“She may have been a bit flat after that good first-up performance from a long time off as well.

“She has worked beautifully since then.

Prior to her long lay-off, the daughter of Nicconi scored back-to-back wins at Ballarat and Sandown-Lakeside before a length and a quarter second to Vienna Princess in the Listed Twilight Glow Stakes at Caulfield in November, 2022.

“These are the conditions she is looking for as well,” he said.

“It has come up stronger than I had hoped, but she is a stakes class mare and I expect her to run very well in this grade.”

Originally published as Kensington preview: Trainer Danielle Seib has a Group 1 goal for her promising young stayer