3 minute read
Danielle Seib’s affinity with the TAB Highway series is primed to continue with stamina mare Amarantz targeted at value for Rosehill Gardens on Saturday with regular ally Tyler Schiller.
The young Goulburn trainer is striving for a seventh series success in the $120,000 Class 3 episode with the five-year-old Animal Kingdom mare ideally placed at 1800m and set weights with 57kg for Schiller.
The 2021/22 champion apprentice won on Amarantz significantly with a half kilo less over 2000m in a Hawkesbury BM 64 last month and 54kg winning at headquarters in February.
So the race circumstance align at $11 value on TAB in an episode where regular series 'suspects' Matt Dunn, Matt Dale and Cameron Crockett typically present their horses with strong form.
All contributing to make recent dual placegetter Burrandana quite short as the $1.95 favourite in a solid form race and a capacity field.
Formerly with John O'Shea, Amarantz is fitter for four runs since a spell.
Mainly primers over unsuitable trips after she powered to win a Royal Randwick Highway (1800m) before a let-up.
While the weight rise from 54kg to 57kg is significant, so is her upside off a big win last start in a provincial benchmark. Time proven in the series.
Highways inevitably are run at a high tempo so the closing strength of Amarantz is guaranteed at 1800m off a powerful 2000m BM 64 win from near last and a month's freshen.
"We'd set her for this 1800m off Hawkesbury and a let-up, preferred Randwick, but ideal as set weights she's in with a little less off a benchmark win," offered Danielle who rides her own trackwork.
"Benchmark form invariably holds up and Highways are always run at a fast tempo with big fields. She's a tough closer, at her top now.
"Mares generally hold their form and there's been form out of that Hawkesbury race."She's still on the fresh side from a good draw, she might not get that far back.
"Leave that to Tye (Schiller) he knows how to get the best out of her. Wasn't able to give her the right cuddle at Hawkesbury, but she still won really well.
"So looking forward to the bigger track. Pace on and should be given every chance by Tyler, confident of that. But again, strong form race, the bigger stables always bring the right horses."
Dunn and Dale have won 50 plus Highway races since inception.
Race favourite is Burrandana for Wagga Wagga veteran Peter J Morgan on the strength of successive photo runner-up efforts to Chase My Crown, when desperately unlucky, and then to Dunn's Eaglemont who brought Doomben placings to the series.
They were from rearward at 1400m and 1500m with Jason Collett, Morgan said at the time Burrandana, better suited at a "mile or more."
Meanwhile, it has been a defining season for Danielle who took over training from her late father Lew in 2017 after she attainted a Bachelor or Education and a Science Degree while working for Arrowfield Stud.
Danielle's partner Aaron Day is from a renowned harness pacing family. Last season was the stable's most successful yet with 27 wins, numerous Highways and a 15% winning strike rate was the second best in NSW.
"We've had some of luck, but fantastic support from Champion Thoroughbreds, we've got 28 in work, still building and we bought first time at the Magic Millions."
