Seaway (NZ) Stars in Winter Challenge

27 July 2019

Seaway (NZ) (Ocean Park) claims the Listed Winter Challenge (1500m) at Rosehill.
Seaway (NZ) (Ocean Park) claims the Listed Winter Challenge (1500m) at Rosehill.

$210,000 Premier Sale purchase Seaway (NZ) (Ocean Park) scored his first black-type victory with a strong performance in Saturday’s A$150,000 Listed Winter Challenge (1500m) at Rosehill.

Ridden by Tommy Berry for champion trainer Chris Waller, the four-year-old angled across from a wide gate to sit outside the leader for most of the race.

Taking over at the top of the straight, Seaway repelled a sustained challenge from Goodfella (Snitzel) and late bids by Eckstein (I Am Invincible) and Gaulois (Street Cry) to win by a long neck.

Seaway has now had 15 starts for six wins and four placings, adding Saturday’s first stakes success to a previous placing in the Group 2 Queensland Guineas (1600m).

He has earned A$377,425 in stakes for owners Star Thoroughbreds Pty Ltd, Paramount Racing, Mrs G C Smith, Mr R B T Aurisch, Mrs H A Aurisch, Mr T J Boland, Mr F W Cook, Mrs C M Cook, P and S Glenney and S McKee Racing.

“He’s won some good races for the team,” Waller said. “He goes very well fresh. We pulled him out a couple of weeks ago because it was a bit too wet, but today, from his wide draw, he’s been well ridden and come away with a nice win. It’s a good result for the stable.

“He could be a rough chance for a race like the Epsom (Group 1, 1600m, October 5), but he could certainly be a Group 2 type of horse in some of the lead-up races towards that. He won’t just make up numbers in those sorts of races.”

Seaway is one of three foals to race from the One Cool Cat mare Miss Purrfection (NZ), all of them winners. Kiwi Karma (NZ) (Fast ‘n’ Famous) won eight races in Singapore including the Golden Horseshoe (1200m), Singapore 3YO Sprint (1200m) and Prestige Classic (1400m) at stakes level.

Seaway became the third individual stakes winner for Waikato Stud stallion Ocean Park (NZ) (Thorn Park), who has also been represented by Group 1 placegetters such as Arrogant (NZ), Mongolianconqueror (NZ), Another Dollar (NZ) and Rondinella (NZ).

Vendor Waikato Stud
Purchaser Star Thoroughbreds (New South Wales)
Breeding Ocean Park – Miss Purrfection
Sale Lot 411, 2016 Premier Sale, $210,000
Bred by T E Luke & Waikato Stud