Bright Future for the very impressive First Seal

Champion sire Fastnet Rock featured at Randwick on Wednesday with the very impressive First Seal (3f Fastnet Rock x Episode, by Scenic), who looms as an Oaks prospect of the future.

The John Thompson trained First Seal started favourite in the 1100 metre fillies maiden and powered home to win by half a neck for Hugh Bowman over a trip that was clearly short of her best.

From dual Oaks winner Episode, First Seal was spelled after finishing fourth on debut back in May and is now ready to embark on a Classic season that promises much.

"I don’t think the slow (6) suited her,” Thompson said. "She’ll be much better on top of the ground as her turn of foot is her best asset.

"We're having a look at the Princess Series culminating in the (Group I) Flight Stakes."

A $700,000 NZB Premier purchase from the Curraghmore Stud draft for Bart Cummings, First Seal runs for a powerful group of owners that includes China Horse Club, Raffles Thoroughbred Racing and Think Big Stud.

She is a three-quarter sister to Group II STC Tulloch Stakes winner Book of Kells and is the seventh winner for Episode, who won both the Group I SAJC Australasian Oaks and South Australian Oaks as well as finishing second in the Queensland Oaks.