Trainer hoping maiden can seal deal
WITH outstanding mares Daysee Doom and Dixie Blossoms being readied for their 10th clash in the Golden Pendant, their trainer Ron Quinton is hoping to build some stable momentum with emerging three-year-old Seel The Deel at Kembla Grange today.
Seel The Deel, a placegetter at his only two starts, is poised to breakthrough in a Maiden Handicap (1500m).
A provincial maiden is a far cry from the level that Daysee Doom and Dixie Blossoms will be racing at Rosehill on Saturday but Quinton is pragmatic.
“There are a lot of maidens and they have to start somewhere,” he said.
Seel The Deel, a three-yearold by triple crown winner (It’s A) Dundeel, made his debut at Kembla Grange late last year and ran second behind Sydney Blue in a juvenile race over 1400m.
He then came back to 1300m and took on older horses at Newcastle when closing late for third to Primitivo.
Seel The Deel is again racing older horses today but the step up to 1500m will suit and Quinton pointed out the gelding has finally drawn a barrier (two).
“In both his races, he has drawn the outside and we’ve had to go back early before making nice ground late,’’ Quinton said.
“We won’t be changing his pattern of racing too much but hopefully from the good draw he can settle a little closer.
“His two runs have been sound, he’s bred to appreciate getting out over further and he’s trained on nicely.
“We’re hoping for a change of luck, we have had a lot of placings lately.’’
If Seel The Deel can break through today, it will provide Quinton with a timely confidence boost ahead of his stable stars Daysee Doom and Dixie Blossoms renewing their keen rivalry in the Group 2 $400,000 Golden Pendant (1400m) at Rosehill Gardens on Saturday.
The two mares are now sixyear-olds but they have been flying the Quinton stable flag in feature races for the past two seasons.
Daysee Doom has won nine of her 23 starts including the Group 1 Coolmore Classic last autumn, amassing $1.19 million prizemoney, while Dixie Blossoms has won six from 25 attempts.