Mark Kavanagh is hoping to unearth another Group One performer through the Easter Cup with emerging galloper Sea Hunter.The four-year-old has made a rapid rise through his classes and will contest Saturday's 2000m Group Three event which was the turning point in the careers of other Kavanagh-trained gallopers Maldivian and Raffaello.After winning the 2007 Easter Cup, Maldivian became a three-time Group One winner of the 2007 Yalumba Stakes, 2008 Cox Plate and 2009 Orr Stakes.Raffaello hasn't had
Mark Kavanagh is hoping to unearth another Group One performer through the Easter Cup with emerging galloper Sea Hunter.
The four-year-old has made a rapid rise through his classes and will contest Saturday's 2000m Group Three event which was the turning point in the careers of other Kavanagh-trained gallopers Maldivian and Raffaello.
After winning the 2007 Easter Cup, Maldivian became a three-time Group One winner of the 2007 Yalumba Stakes, 2008 Cox Plate and 2009 Orr Stakes.
Raffaello hasn't had the same level of success but he was a luckless second to subsequent dual Group One placegetter Miss Maren in the Easter Cup and last spring was Group One-placed himself when third in the Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes at Caulfield.
Now trained by his owner Jim Marconi, Raffaello is among Sea Hunter's main rivals on Saturday.
"He (Raffaello) is probably the best horse in the race but if it rained Sea Hunter would be a genuine chance," Kavanagh said.
He said the Easter Cup was a timely race for progressive horses and that Maldivian and Raffaello ran in it at similar stages of their careers to Sea Hunter.
"It is at right time of the year if you have horse that you think is going to mature and go on," Kavanagh said.
Sea Hunter was a maiden until three starts ago when, lining up for the 13th run of his career, he scored at Benalla on February 16.
He then won at Moonee Valley and last start finished second to Beatboy at Sandown over 2100 metres on March 17.
"Not many horses go from a maiden to winning in town at their next start and he showed that he could do that," Kavanagh said.
"He continued with that form with a unlucky second at Sandown after getting checked at the start so we are giving him a chance in this race.
"He keeps improving every time we put him around and I believe he is probably around that mark."
Apprentice Billy Egan has ridden Sea Hunter at his five runs this campaign and Kavanagh has trusted him with the mount again.
Egan was on loan to Kavanagh for three months and recently joined the stable permanently.
"He has been taking advantage of all the opportunities we have been throwing at him and he's riding in excellent form," Kavanagh said.