Eckstein had won the Listed Winter S. at her previous start and Saturday’s Listed Maldives Travel Connection Construction Winter Challenge was her final appearance before retirement and a date with Triple Crown winner Justify (USA).
Purchased by Coolmore for $750,000 at the Magic Millions Gold Coast Broodmare Sale, she finished gamely for third behind Seaway with Goodfella (Snitzel) splitting the Chris Waller-trained pair.
Seaway was ridden aggressively by Tommy Berry from a wide gate to sit in second spot and clung on grimly after hitting the front early in the run home.
“He got straight outside the leader and backed off the speed and made it harder for those behind, but Eckstein did get home well the way the race was run. It was a good result for the stable,” Waller said.
“He got straight outside the leader and backed off the speed and made it harder for those behind, but Eckstein did get home well the way the race was run,” – Chris Waller.
Bred and sold by Waikato Stud, Star Thoroughbreds’ Denise Martin went to NZ$210,000 to purchase the half-brother to the multiple Singapore stakes winner Kiwi Karma (NZ) (Fast ‘n’ Famous).
Their dam Miss Purrfection (NZ) (One Cool Cat {USA}) is a half-sister to the G2 Sir Byrne Hart S. winner and G1 Telegraph H. runner-up Cheiron (NZ) (Centaine).
Seaway as a yearling
“He’s won some good races for Denise and the team and he goes very well fresh,” Waller said. “We pulled him out two weeks ago because it was just a bit wet.
“It was four weeks between runs and from the wide draw he was well ridden and came away with a nice win.”
Waller has no ambitious plans for Seaway, who he considers up to Group 2 level.
Chris Waller considers Seaway up to Group 2 level
“I think he’s a Shannon S. type of horse. It’s not all about winning Group races though with the way the prize money is,” Waller said. “It’s still good running seconds and thirds. It would be special if he could win a few more.
“He won’t just make up the numbers and who knows, he could be a rough Epsom chance, but realistically the lead-up races are his chances.”
Double strikes
Tamworth trainer Cody Morgan had a memorable day in the city when he won the TAB Highway H. with Pat’s Nipper (Duporth) and stablemate Ligulate (Domesday) later came out and triumphed in the Next Telecom H.
However, he had been far from confident of completing a double with the 3-year-old.
Pat's Nipper won the TAB Highway H.
“Australian Bloodstock sent him up and he’s got a bit of a wind issue so I put the tongue tie on him and he put three on Pat’s Nipper on Tuesday,” Morgan said.
“I thought we might be a chance, but then he paraded pretty average and I sort of lost all hope.”
“I thought we might be a chance, but then he paraded pretty average and I sort of lost all hope.” - Cody Morgan.
Ligulate had other ideas and saved his best for the race and after racing behind the leading division he burst through in the straight to also complete a winning double for Australia Bloodstock.
Their colours were carried to an easy victory in the previous event, the Robb Report H., by Brenton Avdulla aboard the Kris Lees-trained Our Candidate (Ire) (Camelot {GB}).
He is a half-brother to the G2 Premio Ribot winner Porsenna (Ire) (Dylan Thomas {Ire}) and was purchased for 80,000 guineas at last year’s Tattersall’s Autumn Horses in Training Sale.
Our Candidate won twice in England and opened his Australian account over ground at Wyong last month.
