 Scott Seamer, who would have to qualify as the
world's hottest jockey, has an undeniable chance of adding another Group One race to his
season when he partners Vapour Trail in tomorrow afternoon's $225,000 New Zealand Oaks
(2400m) at Trentham.
Last weekend it was two of three features on
the Gold Coast, courtesy of Lovely Jubly and Play Station, before then a New Zealand Derby
with Leica Guv, an Auckland Cup with Maguire, a King's Plate with La Bella Dama. Let's not
forget the Caulfield and Melbourne Cups on Ethereal or the Mackinnon Stakes on La Bella
Dama at huge odds!
However you put it, it's been one hell of a
ride for the part time macadamia farmer since partnering Ethereal to Group One glory in
the Queensland Oaks in May.
"Since the Oaks in Brisbane it's been
sensational," Seamer reflected.
"It's nice to enjoy a good run. The
opportunities that the Oaks win has given me has given a great boost," he added.
Always regarded as an accomplished rider
throughout the north of New South Wales and southern Queensland, Seamer hit the big time
after partnering the Shiela Laxon trained Ethereal in the Queensland Oaks.
With Ethereal we now know the rest is history.
The daughter of Rhythm would go on and take the Caulfield Cup by an inch and the Melbourne
Cup by panels and cement her name into the history books.
But it hasn't been just the fancied runners
that Seamer has been taking feature race wins with. Sure Ethereal was highly rated in both
Cups and both Leica Guv and Maguire at the top of markets in New Zealand, but his efforts
on horses not thought to be winning chances has been first class.
His front running display on La Bella Dama in
the Group One Mackinnon Stakes at Flemington on Derby Day was nothing short of brilliant.
Judging the pace to perfection, the Graeme Rogerson trained mare was able to hold out her
opponents for a gutsy win.
And last weekend his efforts to ride the
promising Lion Hunter filly Lovely Jubly to victory in the Magic Millions 2YO Classic on
the Gold Coast was another case of Seamer at his best.
Tomorrow the in form hoop gets a chance to add
to his blossoming tally of feature race wins when he gets legged aboard the Jetball filly
Vapour Trail in the New Zealand Oaks at Trentham.
A member of the Donna Logan stable at Ruakaka,
Vapour Trail burst into Oaks markets with a strong win in the Group Two Eight Carat
Classic at Ellerslie on Boxing Day.
At her following run and final lead up run,
Vapour Trail ran a close up fourth to Dreamworks in the Group Two Royal Stakes on January
2.
Seamer, who is riding the filly for the first
time tomorrow, should be able to give Vapour Trail the run of the race from barrier four.
Unplaced in only one of her past seven starts,
Vapour Trail has the chance to add her name to the list of Seamer Group One winners - and
the way he is currently riding who is game to tip against him? Not me! |
