Final Siren rings in Golden Saddle bid after injury scare

Promising galloper Final Siren has secured a slot in the inaugural $1 million Develop Golden Saddle (1200m) in Kalgoorlie with trainer Rebecca Bayliss confirming the five-year-old is back on track following a minor injury scare that cut short his winter campaign.

The lightly raced I’m All The Talk gelding was sidelined after sustaining a paddock injury-a cut to his shin-that forced Bayliss to hit pause on his preparation after he ran a solid fourth to Repossession when resuming in the Listed Beaufine Stakes (1000m) at Pinjarra on July 5.

“We were actually going for the winter series when he had a little stable mishap after the Beaufine,” Bayliss said to Racing WA.

“He cut his leg which stopped all of that and redirected us towards this (Golden Saddle).

“We were disappointed because he raced really well in the Beaufine, it wasn’t anything serious and maybe the redirection is a good thing.

“We are very lucky; it could have been a lot worse, and it’s healed beautifully.”

Final Siren has won six races from 15 starts, showing early promise when he burst onto the scene with a five-length debut win at Albany.

He won the Mount Barker Sprint (1300m) in January and followed up with strong placings in the Pinjarra Classic (1300m) and Bunbury Stakes (1400m).

Bayliss said she’s looking forward to getting Final Siren ready for Kalgoorlie’s richest new race.

“We are going to trial him Monday week at Belmont,” Bayliss said.

“Then two weeks into the Nicopolis Stakes (1200m).

“It gives us a lot of time, three weeks to the Golden Saddle.”

Bayliss added how Final Siren performs in the Golden Saddle will shape plans for the upcoming Ascot Pinnacles carnival.

“He still has to step up to the next level,” Bayliss said.

“How he goes will direct us in what way we go.

“There’s a few options I suppose.

“I’m looking forward to it and it’s exciting.”

The Golden Saddle is WA’s richest regional race and an exciting addition to Kalgoorlie’s iconic Race Round, a worthy undercard on Kalgoorlie Cup Day.

The 1200m sprint, set to be run on October 4, will be contested under weigh-for-age conditions, with 12 slot holders locked away.

Final Siren will race for slot holders Morton Racing and RAM Racing, who are no strangers to success and a powerhouse in WA’s slot racing scene.

Known for their bold selections and signature black cowboy hats, RAM Racing have already built an impressive record in WA’s rich sprint features.

They’re on the hunt for their fourth slot race crown after Overpass won two editions of the $5 million Quokka and Gemma’s Son claimed the Bluff Knoll in Albany.

Bayliss hopes RAM Racing’s slot success is a good omen and can rub off on Final Siren.

“RAM are such a great bunch of people, and they make it fun,” Bayliss said.

“They are pretty lucky slot holders, that’s what we like.

“Hopefully they can pass that luck our way.”

Julio Santarelli