THERE will only ever be one Isorich, but Wayne Seelin might have at least found a “replacement” for his now retired warhorse.
However there was a sad note to the Wyong trainer’s last to first victory with lightly-raced Apache Breeze ($5.50) in the Midway Class 1 Handicap (1200m) at Newcastle on Saturday.
Seelin and his father Brian race the four-year-old on lease from the gelding’s breeder Denis McEnearney, who passed away in July.
“Denis and I met when we were both doing a horse industry course at TAFE 25 years ago, and became good mates,” Seelin explained.
“He eventually started giving me some horses to train, and it’s so sad that he isn’t around to see this horse race.
“I didn’t get Apache Breeze until he was a three-year-old, and then the horse cut his head open being broken in and the wound needed stapling, and also went shin sore.
“As a result, I didn’t rush him and that’s why he has been a late starter.”
Apache Breeze, a son of Duporth and the now deceased Accountess, won at $26 on debut at Muswellbrook on November 5, ridden by apprentice William Stanley, now based with Kris Lees at Newcastle.
At his third start, Apache Breeze was a close second at $61 at Newcastle on December 1 – but no such luxury odds were available this time.
Ridden by Keagan Latham, Apache Breeze sustained a strong run down the centre of the track to edge out fellow Wyong trainer Kim Waugh’s River Pat ($3.70), despite conceding him 4kg.
“I have trained a few of the Apache horses, and this fellow might be the best of them,” Seelin said.
“He has shown some ability, and keeps improving.”
Seelin trained the now retired Apache Belle (Apache Breeze’s older half-sister, by Mahisara), but didn’t get her until she had raced 22 times for several other trainers and won three races.
He won first-up with her at $31 at Port Macquarie in March 2021 after she hadn’t raced for nearly 12 months, and won a further five races with her, including the 2021 Hunter Stayers Cup (2900m) at Newcastle and last year’s Cessnock Cup (2100m) on the Beaumont track.
“Unfortunately she went amiss and has gone to stud,” Seelin said.
As for 14-year-old Isorich, a $7500 Scone yearling buy who raced 155 times for 16 wins and 37 placings and earned $826,000, he is hale and hearty in retirement at his trainer’s property at Wyee on the Central Coast.
“He does a couple of hot laps around the paddock when a bot fly annoys him,”Seelin said. “He hates them.
“Otherwise, he is in terrific order and despite his age, could go back into work if we were allowed to do that.”
Seelin’s success with Apache Breeze prevented fellow Wyong trainer Kim Waugh from clinching a Newcastle double.
She had earlier landed the Provincial Maiden Handicap (1600m) with another Latham ride, the heavily supported Rhinestone Lad ($3.30), who had to “win” twice.
The Savabeel four-year-old narrowly defeated Newcastle trainer Jason Deamer’s Think We’re There ($6), then had to withstand a protest before RacingNSW stewards dismissed the objection lodged by the runner-up’s rider Christian Reith, alleging interference over the concluding stages.
Newcastle trainer Paul Perry won the opening race, the Maiden Handicap (900m) with $10 chance Puerto Banus.
Ridden by Alysha Collett, the Saxon Warrior three-year-old broke through at his seventh start after four minor placings.
Story John Curtis, December 15, 2024
Comments