Latest News

Trainer Steven O'Dea is confident his two well-bred three-year-olds Sefire and The Wild One can break their maiden status when they line up at Grafton on Monday.

Sefire, a three-year-old daughter of Sebring, has her second race start in the Jacqui's Shoe & Clothing Boutique F&M Maiden Plate (1020m).

The Wild One, unplaced in his two Brisbane starts last season, resumes in the Blue Dolphin Holiday Resort Yamba C,G& E Maiden Plate (1020m). The Wild One is by I Am Invincible out of the Fastnet Rock mare She's A Wildcat, a full-sister to the former Group One-winning sprinter Foxwedge.

"They both look nice races for them and they should be very hard to beat," said O'Dea.

"Both horses have drawn out a bit (both in barrier 10), but I don't think their draws will really be an issue."

Sefire made her debut with an encouraging third behind Rock Tour and Me As I Am over 1000m at the Sunshine Coast on September 6 when she made ground late to be beaten 1.75 lengths.

O'Dea isn't concerned that she stays over the shorter trip on Monday.

"She ran well on debut and will no doubt improve with that race experience. I've kept her fresh since her Sunshine Coast debut with this 1020m race on Monday in mind," he said

Sefire runs third at Sunshine Coast on September 6

O'Dea has been very happy with The Wild One's progress since he was gelded after his last run back in April when he was unplaced behind Devil's Temptation in a 2YO Hcp over 1000m at Eagle Farm.

He goes into Monday's race off the back of a close second in a Doomben barrier trial over 1000m on September 10 when he showed pace to sit outside Sizzling Power and was just edged out by that horse on the line.

"He's always shown ability on the training track but didn't show it in his two runs, but I think he'll be a different horse now that he's been gelded,'' he said.

"His recent jumpout and barrier trial were both good. Like Sefire, he's drawn out a bit, but we'll be positive with him and he should take up a forward position."

Both three-year-olds are raced by Proven Thoroughbreds who have been having a great run of success with O'Dea, including an Eagle Farm treble on September 7 with Reckless Choice, Scallopini and Sienna Rose.

On-loan Melbourne apprentice Stephanie Thornton is also having a good run since linking with the O'Dea stable earlier this season and will partner Sefire and The Wild One on Monday.

"Stephanie's going really well up here in Brisbane. She's on loan with me for three months and we can reassess later on whether she wants to stay on for longer," said O'Dea.

O'Dea also accepted with Don't Despair and Grumble in Monday's Maiden Plate (1730m) and with Ginger Beer in the Class 2 Hcp (1120m) but he will run instead at the Sunshine Coast on Sunday.

He rates Don't Despair, also raced by Proven Thoroughbreds and to be ridden by Thornton, as the pick of his two runners in the Maiden Plate.

Don't Despair has finished sixth in both his runs to date at the Sunshine Coast over 1200m and 1400m and O'Dea thinks he can improve third-up stepping out to the 1730m on Monday.

"He didn't have a lot of luck last time out and I actually don't mind him being drawn out a bit (barrier nine) in Monday's race," he said.

"And he can certainly improve stepping up to the 1730m which should really suit him. Grumble, on the other hand, probably wants a bit further than Monday's race to show her best."

All the fields, form and replays for Monday's Grafton meeting