Melbourne Cup raider Sea King prepares for first start with Matt Dunn in Christmas Cup at Randwick

Imported stayer Sea King has remained in Australia to continue his career following this year’s Melbourne Cup, and will have his first start for his new stable on Saturday.

Sea King has joined Matt Dunn’s yard. Picture: Brett Holburt/Racing Photos via Getty Images

Impressive UK import and recent Melbourne Cup fancy Sea King now calls Murwillumbah home and is poised to make a bold first impression for new trainer Matt Dunn in Saturday’s Listed $200,000 Christmas Cup (2400m) at Royal Randwick.

Stakes-winning import Sea King has made the switch from England’s famous Newmarket to the quiet surrounds of the NSW Northern Rivers.

Dunn inherited Sea King from English trainer Harry Eustace following a successful spring campaign in Melbourne.

• PUNT LIKE A PRO: Become a Racenet iQ member and get expert tips – with fully transparent return on investment statistics – from Racenet’s team of professional punters at our Pro Tips section. SUBSCRIBE NOW!

Sea King was a brilliant winner of the Group 3 Bendigo Cup (2400m) before finishing 14th in the Melbourne Cup and has been kept in work for another Cup raid in Sydney.

“He’s a lovely horse,” Dunn said.

“He has done well since he arrived.

“I was a bit nervous taking on a horse that’s been in a Melbourne Cup because there is often not much left.

“But all he has done is put weight on and improve. He’s happy.”

Sea King is by Sea The Stars, the same sire as Dunn and OTI’s former star Cepheus, who died after suffering a catastrophic injury in trackwork in September.

Many of the same owners are also involved with Dunn’s new staying talent.

Sea King has taken some time to figure out what life in Australia is all about but has started to get the hang of things at his new home on the NSW-Queensland border.

• Willie Pike breaks wrist in e-scooter mishap

“He is a funny one because when he first arrived, I spoke to Harry Eustace, and he said it’s like he is unsure what he needs to do and he was the same when he got here,” Dunn said.

“He was a bit lost and we put him in the pool for the first time and he didn’t know how to do that.

“We took him to the beach and he wanted to charge off down the beach. It’s almost like he is a young horse and I don’t think he has been in the big wide world much.

“He’s really adjusted (over the past couple of weeks) and fit into the proper mould. I am really excited about him, he’s a beauty.”

Sea King won the Bendigo Cup in his first Australian start. Picture: Pat Scala/Racing Photos via Getty Images

Sea King has had a trial since joining Dunn and was doing his best work late in a 1000m hitout on the Gold Coast.

Star Sydney rider Nash Rawiller travelled to Queensland to pilot the gelding in the tune-up and will stick with him in the Christmas Cup.

Dunn will get a better idea of what comes next for his potential new star following his debut assignment for the stable.

“He came up here with no real plan in place and just to see how he did for a couple of weeks,” he said.

“He certainly wasn’t a horse that was looking for a break so we gave him a nice little freshen and the Christmas Cup looked like a nice option.

“We will see what happens on Saturday but we don’t have a long-term plan with him just yet.

“I think he will run well.”

The final field for the Christmas Cup will be revealed on Wednesday.

Originally published as Melbourne Cup raider Sea King prepares for first start with Matt Dunn in Christmas Cup at Randwick