Proud Miss Stakes or The Goodwood options for Seradess

Mark and Levi Kavanagh will study the entries for the Group 3 Proud Miss Stakes (1200m) while awaiting to hear on jockey availability before deciding which race the in-form filly contests this Saturday.

The daughter of Astern raced into contention for the $500,000 Group 1 The Goodwood with a dashing win in the Group 2 Tobin Bronze Stakes (1200m) at Morphettville on May 7.

That victory earned her a ballot exemption from The Goodwood, in which she has just 52.5kg, but Kavanagh said finding the right rider would be crucial to her chances in that 1200m race.

“On the weekend the intention was to run in The Goodwood, but at this stage we’re just mulling it over because we haven’t locked in a jockey yet,” Levin Kavanagh said on Monday morning.

“We’re going to be in with 52.5kg, so obviously we’re going to be quite restricted on which jockeys we’re able to use.

“Could we be better off to go over there and be an extremely good chance (in the Proud Miss) instead of having a crack against the old, stronger horses even with the weight reduction in the Group 1?

“We’ve got to have a chat with the owners today and lock in exactly what we’re going to do.”

Seradess, who owns a rating of 99, was the second-highest rated of the 24 Proud Miss Stakes nominations, which are headed by last year’s Goodwood runner-up Instant Celebrity (106).

Craig Williams rode Seradess to victory in the Tobin Bronze but is expected to retain his association with September Run if she contests The Goodwood.

The Tobin Bronze Stakes winner is yet to win The Goodwood in the same season with Dapper’s Hope’s second placing in 1992 the best result.

Adding to the historical hurdle confronting Seradess is the fact that only three fillies have won The Goodwood in the past 50 years; Wise Virgin (1973), Boardwalk Angel (1989) and Lone Rock (2011).

Kavanagh and his co-trainer father will head to Morphettville confident of a good showing whichever race Seradess contests given her record in Adelaide.

The Tobin Bronze Stakes, which she won by 2-3/4 lengths, was her third start in Adelaide, following a third placing in the Listed Redelva Stakes (1100m) and a five-length win in the Listed Cinderella Stakes (1000m) at two.

“She’s owned by Adelaide clientele, so they do like it when we do bring her across and she obviously relishes the trip and likes that track.”

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