Trainer Danny O’Brien is open minded on the spring program for progressive mare Sea What I See

Trainer Danny O’Brien wants progressive mare Sea What I See, who resumes at The Valley on Saturday, to dictate her spring program.

Trainer Danny O’Brien wants progressive Sea What I See to dictate her spring program.

The lightly-raced mare graduated from maiden to Listed winner last campaign in six perfect starts to emerge as a spring candidate.

“She’s coming off a really good autumn, she’s got a long spring hopefully in front her so she’s not wound up to have a grand final on Saturday,” O’Brien said.

“We’re going there with good improvement in her … but we’re expecting her to run well.

“When a horse has been winning as often as she has your expectations are they’re going to go there and fight out the finish.”

Sea What I See is a $2.80 favourite with TAB from hard-fit Rheinberg ($5.50) and Rhapsody Chic ($5.50) in a 1523m Open Handicap on Saturday at The Valley.

Sea What I See and Blake Shinn dominate the Rubaroc Grand Handicap Classic. Four wins in a row, with a bright future ⭐

🎥 @7HorseRacing#AustralianCuppic.twitter.com/LiaRZU9Uhg

— Victoria Racing Club (@FlemingtonVRC) March 30, 2024

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The five-year-old’s next two starts – Saturday’s race and a 1700m handicap at Flemington on September 21 – will shape the spring preparation.

“We’re hopeful, these two races to kick-off her spring, she’s going to be well placed in both of them,” O’Brien said.

“The 1700m should get a good guide … even Saturday she’s stepping in against better horses than what she saw in the autumn.”

Sea What I See has a Caulfield Cup nomination but the Group 3 Tesio Stakes and Group 2 Matriarch Stakes could be more realistic targets.

“There’s other races she could run in if she’s proven she’s come on from the autumn,” O’Brien said.

“She’s entered for it (Caulfield Cup), but winning at Mornington on Mornington Cup day and then a Listed race in Adelaide against mares is not a traditional Caulfield Cup winner’s profile. But she’s lightly raced and we’ll keep an open mind.”

Sea What I See makes her much awaited return to racing at The Valley on Saturday. Picture: Ross Holburt / Racing Photos

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Young Werther, a $17 outsider on Saturday, is unlikely to trouble the favourite at 1523m.

“I would’ve thought he’d be back behind her, coming back from a mile-and-a-half race seven or eight weeks ago, he’s really just getting some fitness and will head to 2000m shortly,” O’Brien said.

O’Brien has Sammaan City (race 3) and Immortal Star (race 4) early on The Valley card.

Immortal Star, a $4.20 second favourite in the Vale Black Caviar Plate (1200m), should be hard to hold out with a clean getaway.

“She got into a bad spot from the start after being a bit slow away the other day,” O’Brien said.

“If she settles in the first two or three she should be hard to beat.”

Originally published as Trainer Danny O’Brien is open minded on the spring program for progressive mare Sea What I See