Photo: Trish Dunell
The Trelawney-bred and sold Seajetz cleared maiden ranks on Sunday at Te Aroha wining his 1400m event at the Thames Jockey Club meeting.
Seajetz, who ran fifth on debut in December, handled the wet track conditions and trainer Jamie Richards was confident of a strong effort leading into the race.
“We’d been really happy with him during the week, Richards said. “He’d been working up with Burgundy Rose (Burgundy), who came out and won well yesterday at Tauranga.
“He’d improved off the back of his first-up run, where I thought he ran quite a nice race, particularly the last 200m when he really got going and up to 1400 metres was always going to suit him.
“I was a little concerned about the track conditions, although he does have the sort of action that suggests he could handle that sort of track and he had trialled very well when winning here on Slow9 prior to racing.
“He’s done a good job there today, will continue to improve, and I think he’s the type of horse that can be watched out for into the autumn, up over a mile and 2000 metres.”
Ridden by Danielle Johnson, Seajetz raced handily in fifth, picked up the nickel when asked to improve inside the 600m and after angling widest in search of better going he stuck to his task well.
By proven international sire Iffraaj, Seajetz is out of Bellazeel, a talented staying mare that impressed winning over 2100m, while grand-dam La Bella Dama has left six individual winners of 28 races and over NZ$2.5m prizemoney.
Owned by Bill and Sandra Duell, Seajetz was purchased by David Ellis CNZM for $100,000 at the 2019 Karaka Book 1 Sale, from the draft of Trelawney Stud.
“He’s by Iffraaj, out of a Zabeel (Sir Tristram) mare, so he’s got a nice pedigree and he’s improving all the time,” Richards said.
“I’m really thrilled for Bill and Sandra Duell, who own the horse. They have been long-time family friends, raced the top sprinter Natuzzi with Dad (Paul Richards), and have been great supporters.
“We haven’t had a lot of luck for them of late, with a couple of their horses in the spelling paddock, but great that Seajetz could win for them today, and onwards and upwards.”
Trelawney stud will offer a full brother to Seajetz at the upcoming New Zealand Bloodstock Yearling Sale as lot 273 in their Book 1 draft. -Te Akau Racing, Trelawney Stud