3 minute read

A snapshot of Rosehill

Seib draws first Blood in Highway 

There was a time when Danielle Seib juggled training racehorses with teaching high school students, and she knows which one she prefers. 

"I've been fulltime training for two-and-a-half years. I don't miss it," Seib said. 

"Horses are easier than kids and this is where I feel like I belong." 

The Goulburn-based Seib is a rising star of the country training ranks and at Rosehill on Saturday she produced her sixth Highway Handicap winner when Blood River ($14) nudged out Preemptory ($9.50) to continue his super run since joining the stable last year. 

"In five runs that's his third win for the stable," Seib said. 

"I've got 28 in work, it's a really good number. We are very hands-on so we like to be able to get around them all and do everything right." 

Cheerful Legend atones in the Midway 

 He went down by a narrow margin in a Rosehill Midway three weeks ago, but the Nathan Doyle-prepared Cheerful Legend went one better in Saturday's version over 1500m. 

After having to settle well back in the field from barrier 14, the son of Shalaa produced a powerful finish to win with authority under the urgings of Jason Collett. 

The Kiwi hoop believes the four-year-old has taken the next step following his last-start runner-up effort. 

"He was great last start, just the stablemate had a better turn of foot," Collett said. 

"He wasn't quite balanced when I went for him, whereas today I was able to make my run and come into it at my own measure. 

But after hitting the front with 50m to go, Collett wasn't going to go the early crow. 

"I wasn't exactly going away from them," Collett said. 

"There was always that concern in the back of your mind until we hit the post, but the closer we got the more confident I was."  

Parisal goes back-to-back  

She carried a postage stamp weight of just 50kg after apprentice Zac Lloyd's claim and Godolphin filly Parisal used that to full advantage in the Acy Securities Handicap over 1100m. 

 The daughter of Astern was a dominant maiden winner on the Kensington surface a fortnight ago and backed it up with a determined display to defeat race favourite Insurrection. 

 Lloyd was at just his second meeting back after spending several weeks on the sidelines for a betting indiscretion. 

 "She is a very nice horse," Lloyd said. 

 "I was very lucky to get this ride today after seven weeks off. Very thankful to the team and James (Cummings) for putting me on such a quality horse." 

 Trainer James Cummings believes there could be more in the locker for Parisal, who like stablemate Aft Cabin is by Astern . 

 "Gee, she has come back well," Cummings said. 

 "Another Astern three-year-old looking so promising and that's a brilliant start to her preparation. 

"Hopefully she keeps going to better grade." 

King on Cup path 

Mark Newnham has confirmed plans to aim King Frankel at the Sydney Cup after he returned with a determined win in Saturday's Listed Parramatta Cup (1900m) at Rosehill. 

Aided by a beautifully judged ride from Tyler Schiller, King Frankel ranged up to race leader Banju and the pair settled down to fight the race out with Schiller's mount eventually wearing down his rival by a half-neck. 

Newnham said he was always confident King Frankel's stamina would kick in and expected the horse to strip much fitter for the outing. 

"Banju being a hard-fit horse, he was always going to be hard to beat," Newnham said. 

"But Tyler timed his run really well." 

Newnham said King Frankel would have his next start in the Sky High Stakes (2000m) at Rosehill in three weeks before heading to the Sydney Cup (3200m) via either the Tancred Stakes or Manion Cup, both over 2400m at Rosehill next month. 

"He will go fourth-up into the Sydney Cup," Newnham said. 

"King Frankel is only a small horse, that is why if we can get into a Sydney Cup with 50 kilos to 51 kilos, it will be ideal. The last few winners have been down in the weights." 

The win was the former European's fourth in five starts since arriving in Australia last year.  

Quote of the day: "Luckily for me I used to duck in the playground so I don't really know." – Trainer James Cummings when asked how long it takes to heal a broken jaw in reference to the injury suffered by Silver Slipper Stakes winner Cylinder at his prior start in Melbourne.