3 minute read
Nothing succeeds like success!
Young Goulburn trainer Danielle Seib could hardly have expected what would follow after Leather Jacket Lew made it two wins in a row in the Sapphire Coast Showcase Cup (2200m) on January 30.
Not long afterwards she fielded a phone call from an owner who had an unplaced runner in that race asking if she would train him.
Seib obliged and having only his second start for his new trainer, Tudor Prince humped 60.5kg in a Benchmark 58 Handicap (1600m) at Goulburn on May 27 to put an end to a losing drought of only a couple of months shy of two years.
Having turned the corner with the gelding, Seib is now focusing on a step up from country to provincial grade at Hawkesbury on Sunday.
And she has the right man aboard Tudor Prince in the Richmond Club Benchmark 64 Handicap (1800m).
Jean Van Overmeire, who partnered the gelding in his Goulburn triumph, bagged a career best five-winner haul at the last Hawkesbury meeting on May 31.
Tudor Prince, who won four races (three at Moruya and the other at Nowra) for his original trainers Robert and Luke Prince, finished second last in a field of 11 in Leather Jacket Lew's Sapphire Coast race at the end of January.
"Tudor Prince's senior part-owner Alan Skinner rang me afterwards asking if I would train the horse," Seib said last night.
"He had a few injuries during his career, and the owners were hoping a change of environment would help him recapture his winning form.
"Tudor Prince is a well-bred horse and a pleasure to train. He is a very nice type and good mover and it was such a thrill to win with him at home recently.
"He has trained on well since, and that being only his second run back, I'm sure he will go into Sunday's race even fitter and with a bit more confidence.
"He drops 4.5kg going up to a Benchmark 64.
"As Tudor Prince will be my first runner at Hawkesbury, I'm hoping he can put two wins together."
A son of four-times Group 1 winner All Too Hard and the legendary Bart Cummings' 2009 Group 1 Toorak Handicap winner Allez Wonder (by Redoute's Choice), Tudor Prince fetched $70,000 when offered at the 2017 Magic Millions yearling sale at the Gold Coast.
Seib took up training following the death from brain cancer of her Muswellbrook trainer father Lewis Seib five years ago, and fittingly won her first race with one of his horses, Nic City ($18), at Mudgee a month later.
"I thought I would train down the track, but it happened much earlier as a result of Dad's passing," she said.
Seib quit her job as a school teacher and shifted to Goulburn four years ago, and is enjoying a breakout season with 16 winners from 66 runners (strike rate of 24.2 per cent).
"It's my best season by far, and especially pleasing as my stable consists of predominantly young horses.
"I've got 15 in work, and there's always room for more."
A tough nut for Tudor Prince to crack will be Clarry Conners' Real Peace, who has a real penchant for Hawkesbury.
His four appearances at the track have resulted in three wins and a second.
Tom Sherry (now a senior) was an apprentice when Real Peace broke through in a 1600m Maiden at Hawkesbury in October 2020, and also had the mount last time out on May 31 when runner-up to Star Sparks in another Benchmark 64 over the same distance.
This is Hawkesbury's third last meeting of the 2021-22 season, and current premiership front-runners Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott have a couple of good chances to build on their 14 wins (two ahead of James Cummings).
The duo has early favorites Golden Queen (Winona Costin) in the Blakes Marine 2YO Maiden Plate (1400m), and one of Van Overmeire's recent five winners Matlock, in the Blacktown Workers Club Group Class 1 Handicap (1500m).
Golden Queen, a recent Royal Randwick placegetter, will race in blinkers for the first time.
Keagan Latham has been confirmed for first starter Stars And Bars in the Davo's Dash 3YO Maiden Plate (1000m), where his stablemate Notifies (apprentice Dylan Gibbons) also makes her debut for co-trainers Jason and Lucy Attard.
Kris Lees this morning was undecided whether to start Pacheco (Dylan Gibbons) in the Provincial & Country Maiden or at Warwick Farm on Monday in a 1200m Maiden Handicap, where Hugh Bowman has been booked.
. The rail is 2m out from the 1300m to 1100m for Sunday's meeting, and in the TRUE position for the remainder of the circuit. Course manager Rick Johnston posted a "Soft 6" rating this morning.
