Seajetz Wins Swimmingly Well

Without all favours first-up, Seajetz (3 g Iffraaj - Bellazeel, by Zabeel) overcame worsening track conditions to win the $10,000 Maiden 1400 metres during the Thames Jockey Club meeting on 3 January at Te Aroha.

Seajetz was bumped a few times in running when fifth on debut in the Maiden 1200 metres on 16 December at Pukekohe, in a race where third placed Memories (Ferlax) ran equal fastest last 600m (33.7) on the day, along with the Jamie Richards' trained Exaltation (Not A Single Doubt), a half-sister to stable-mate and dual Horse of the Year Melody Belle (Commands).

So the form stacked up, but isolated thunder storms throughout the day that downgraded the track to Heavy10 raised some concerns.

“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 high-quality stallion Iffraaj (Zafonic), with 20 Group 1 winners and 124 stakes winners worldwide, his dam, Bellazeel (Zabeel), was a talented staying mare that impressed winning over 2100 metres, while grand-dam La Bella Dama (Desert Sun) has left six individual winners of 28 races and over NZ$2.5m prize money. 

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 (Coats Choice) 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.”

Seajetz was strapped by Sarah West.

Photo credit - www.raceimages.co.nz

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