The ‘one race at a time’ adage applies to racing like no other industry.
However, the temptation to sneak a peek towards the $1m Newhaven Park Country Championships Final definitely exists for trainers of all runners in Sunday’s $150 000 Southern Wildcard at Goulburn with Danielle Seib no different.
Seib and connections saddle up two runners in the race, Associate ($6.50) and Sir Ming ($12). Both are chasing the winner plays on ultimate Country Championships qualification opportunity, a thrill in itself says Seib.
“It’s a testament to our team at home and all their hard work behind the scenes.”
“It would be great for business to qualify a horse for the final but maybe more importantly a great reward to the connections of either horse and my hardworking staff.”
The lightly raced Associate can do a few things wrong but its easy to make a case for him finishing much closer in the SERA Country Championships qualifier at Moruya last start.
“If he hadn’t had missed the start we may have held down third. He copped a chequered run in the straight but I was happy with his last furlong,” Seib reflected.
Seib is hopeful of a strong tempo in Sunday’s race which could help Associate and pilot Zac Lloyd come up with a racing strategy to suit.
“A strong tempo would definitely help him and it is to be expected in such a high-pressure race.”
Associate hasn’t raced since the Moruya expedition with Seib happy to play it that way. A wide draw a possible factor in the tactics available.
“We’ve kept him fresh with this in mind. From barrier 12 I’ll just leave it up to Zac. He’s a momentum horse so drawing wide is probably better than being boxed in on the fence.”
Seib’s other Southern Wildcard runner Sir Ming has had such a productive campaign (only been out of the top three once in five starts since late December), that his trainer thinks anything he does in Sunday’s Wildcard is a bonus.
“Sir Ming has stepped up each time he has gone to the races. I was really happy with the way he toughed it out at Moruya.”
“He was the only on pace runner in the finish and I think he’s way over the odds even with the wide draw.”
Alysha Collett will take the reins on Sir Ming with the galloper jumping from gate 11.
Seib also gives the low flying Chaotic Beauty ($12) a shot at something tougher in Race 4, The Emma Murphy Racing Showcase Hcp over 1600m.
Goulburn’s Southern Wildcard is the epitome of the ‘and then there was one’ scenario with the winner taking the final spot available in the $1m Newhaven Park Country Championships final at Royal Randwick on Saturday 6th April.
The TAB Fixed Odds market on Sunday’s Southern Wildcard confirms the competitive nature of the race with Gundy Guy and Zouatica joint favourites ($4.40) and another three runners under double figures. (The Danny Williams trained Bandi’s Boy currently holds favouritism for the Newhaven Park Country Championships final at $4.50)
Goulburn dishes up a strong support card on Sunday with the opening race due to go at 12.55pm. The Southern Wildcard is Race 7 on the program and scheduled to go at 4.45pm.
Goulburn’s track is currently rated a Soft 6 with dry weather forecast through the next three days.
PHOTO – BRADLEY PHOTOS. Associate.
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