Sea Venture Sparks Royal Ascot Dreams with Impressive Winning Debut

It could hardly have been a more taking introduction for Sea Venture, who produced an emphatic winning debut in a notably smart EBF Fillies’ Maiden over 6f at Haydock - a race that counts Gr.1 scorer Wild Beauty (2021) and last year’s Fitzella, winner of the Group 3 Princess Margaret Stakes, among its recent winners.

Secured by Highclere Agency from respected consignors Egmont Stud at the Tattersalls Craven Breeze-Up Sale in April, the daughter of Sea The Stars has clearly thrived since arriving at George Scott’s Newmarket yard, with the team doing an outstanding job helping the filly settle quickly into her new surroundings.

Despite showing signs of greenness when leaving the stalls and drifting slightly, Sea Venture soon gathered herself impressively, travelling with a comfortable cruising speed throughout. When a gap appeared soon after the two-furlong pole, she produced a devastating turn of foot, surging clear to score by an extending three lengths with minimal encouragement from jockey Danny Tudhope. It was a performance full of class, composure and huge promise for the future.

Sea Venture is a sister to two winners over 7f and a mile, and already shapes like a filly likely to appreciate further in time.

Bermuda Racing’s Simon Scupham reflected: “We knew going into her first start that George thought she would give a very good account of herself. That turned out to be some understatement! It is a little bit unusual to have a Sea The Stars filly open her account over 6f so early in her two-year-old career. We are certainly all now ‘seeing the stars’ after that performance… Royal Ascot here we come!”

Bermuda Racing’s Advisor Jake Warren added: “So exciting - the more I have watched the race, the more impressive it seems. To pick up like she did on that soft ground and put it to bed so easily was super exciting stuff. The Chesham looks and feels like the right place to go next with her, keeps things rolling forward nicely and is the perfect time gap.”

Winning jockey Danny Tudhope was equally taken with Sea Venture’s run: “It was a lovely performance, very well behaved first time out and she didn’t put a foot wrong.” Going on to add, “surprisingly, she picked up very well in testing conditions today. It was nice to see and I think she is a lovely filly. Going forward, this is a minimum trip I’d say. Great performance first run, didn’t put a foot wrong and she’s a very likeable filly.” 

[See the full interview below].

As with each horse under the Bermuda Racing banner, the Scupham family selected a name deeply connected to the beauty and history of Bermuda. Sea Venture takes her name from the famous 1609 English vessel deliberately grounded upon Bermuda’s reefs by Admiral Sir George Somers after hurricane damage threatened all aboard - a story of resilience, survival and new beginnings which already feels fitting for this exciting young filly.

Now, with an impressive debut victory already on board and Royal Ascot firmly entering the conversation, Sea Venture looks a filly capable of taking Bermuda Racing on a very exciting journey indeed.

Catch the race replay below: