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By Ray Hickson

Trainer Danielle Seib is keen to set her sights on a TAB Highway with recent recruit King Of Spades if he performs to expectations at the Sapphire Coast on Sunday.

The Goulburn conditioner can only hope the same magic that has seen stablemate Tudor Prince put together four wins in five starts for the stable will work with the former John O’Shea-trained gelding.

King Of Spades, runner-up in both starts for Seib, tackles the South Coast Timber Eden Cup (1600m) and despite top weight of 60kg and the outside barrier she feels he is well placed.

“He’s in terrific form and I’m very happy with him,’’ she said.

“He looks one of the class horses in the field and a progressive young horse.

“Although not drawn terrifically the speed map looks favourable for him to be handy. It’s a race that should suit him.”

King Of Spades won on debut for O’Shea and posted his second win back in May at Goulburn, the scene of his last start narrow defeat, in what was a provincial grade race, at his second start for Seib.

King Of Spades runs second at Goulburn on July 9

On a heavy track, the trainer felt an inside barrier played against him given the pattern of the day but his effort to be beaten about a neck showed her the four-year-old is ready to win.

“He looked home at the top of the straight,’’ she said.

“Maybe if you reverse who was on the outside that day he may have put the nose down in front.

“He’s trained on really well and it was good to see him knuckle down and get into a fight with that horse and want to win.”

The gelding, $4.40 with TAB on Saturday, will be eligible to contest Highway races after Sunday’s third start for Seib and that’s very much on the agenda.

“We don’t think we can improve too much off John O’Shea’s yard but being able to place him in the country is the way with him,’’ Seib said.

“He arrived in terrific condition and since we’ve had him he’s been straightforward. Perhaps the drop to country grade and the quiet atmosphere has assisted him.

“We expect that Sapphire Coast should suit him and he has good form on soft tracks.”

Meanwhile, Tudor Prince is bound for Rosehill next weekend having earned a shot at the $150,000 prizemoney on offer on Saturdays after he made it four straight wins for Seib at Hawkesbury on July 17.

“He’s just a very genuine old horse, he gives his all and he is holding his form very well,’’ she said.

All the fields, form and replays for Sunday’s Sapphire Coast meeting