By Alan Carasso
A 4-year-old of considerable talent, Seasons Bloom (Aus) (Captain Sonador {Aus} had the misfortune of hailing from the same class as the ill-fated Rapper Dragon (Aus) (Street Boss), placing in the first two legs of the Classic series before a brave fourth at a 2000-metre trip that was always too far for him in the Hong Kong Derby. Now back at a more manageable distance, the pint-sized brown gelding seems to have found his sweet spot and punched his ticket to the G1 Longines Hong Kong Mile with a tough defeat of 2016 Mile runner-up Helene Paragon (Fr) (Polan {Fr}) in Sunday's G2 BOCHK Wealth Management Jockey Club Mile at Sha Tin.
Favored in a field that included last year's Hong Kong Mile winner Beauty Only (Ire) (Holy Roman Emperor {Ire}) and runner-up Helene Paragon, Seasons Bloom dropped back to race about three away from the inside running rails and slightly worse than mid-division as the in-form Beauty Generation (NZ) (Road to Rock {Aus}) led, but ceded the advantage to Winner's Way (Aus) (Starcraft {NZ}) at the 1000m point. Quietly ridden with cover three deep on the circle, Seasons Bloom switched out widest into the stretch, but had some work to do, as Beauty Generation clawed his way to a narrow advantage outside of Giant Treasure (Mizzen Mast) with 350m to travel. Helene Paragon had snuck into the race with a ground-saving trip and chimed in to make it a line of four, leading narrowly into the final half-furlong. But Seasons Bloom kept on determinedly and closed off meritoriously for the victory. Beauty Only made decent ground from the rear to finish fourth.
“Based on what he's done today, you would think he'd be able to run well in the Hong Kong Mile next time because he beat some of the best horses in Hong Kong today, and he had to make it tough, being exposed three wide,” Moreira told David Morgan. “[Trainer] Danny [Shum] left the tactics in my hands; he didn't give me specific instruction, I was happy to help him to get going because he doesn't have much early speed. I was able to cross a few horses and get to a position three off the fence, obviously it wasn't ideal but at least he had cover and I got him to relax in a position just better than midfield.”
Pedigree Notes:
Seasons Bloom is the first group winner for his sire (by Danehill), who upset the 2010 G1 Epsom H. and is out of an unraced half-sister to South African GSW & G1SP Sharks Bay (Aus) (Canny Lad {Aus}). Second dam Pyramisa is a full-sister to MGSW Pembleton (Aus) (Marauding {NZ}). Seasons Bloom's 4-year-old full-brother Ambitious Heart also races in Hong Kong and has finished second in a pair of Class 4 handicaps in his two most recent trips to the post for trainer David Ferraris. Seasons Bloom is the first group winner produced by a daughter of Arrowfield Stud's Not a Single Doubt (Aus).
Sunday, Sha Tin, Hong Kong
BOCHK WEALTH MANAGEMENT JOCKEY CLUB MILE-G2, HK$4,000,000 (£388,612/€435,413/A$674,688/US$512,232), Sha Tin, 11-19, 3yo/up, 1600mT, 1:34.13, gd.
1–SEASONS BLOOM (AUS), 123, g, 5, by Captain Sonador (Aus)
1st Dam: Pyramisa's Lass (Aus), by Not a Single Doubt (Aus)
2nd Dam: Pyramisa (Aus), by Marauding (NZ)
3rd Dam: Royal Aria (NZ), by Palace Music
*1ST BLACK-TYPE WIN. 1ST GROUP WIN. (A$26,000 Wlg '13 MMNWNL). O-Paul & Kathy Lo; B-B M Nolan (Qld); T-Danny Shum; J-Joao Moreira; HK$2,280,000. Lifetime Record: 14-6-2-1, HK$12,001,120. *Formerly Le Capitaine (Aus). Werk Nick Rating: A+. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Helene Paragon (Fr), 128, h, 5, Polan (Fr)–High Zaff (GB), by High Chaparral. O-Sir Po-shing & Lady Woo, Jackson Woo, Dawson Woo & The Exors of the Estate of the Late Wilson Woo; B-A Jordan Torres; T-John Moore; HK$880,000.
3–Beauty Generation (NZ), 123, g, 5, Road to Rock (Aus)–Stylish Bel (Aus), by Bel Esprit (Aus). (NZ$60,000 Ylg '14 NZBSEL). O-Patrick Kwok; B-Nearco Stud Ltd; T-John Moore; HK$460,000.
Margins: HF, HF, NK. Odds: 27-10, 7-1, 29-5.
Also Ran: Beauty Only (Ire), Sichuan Dar (Aus), Giant Treasure, Horse of Fortune (SAf), Western Express (Aus), Winner's Way (Aus), Jolly Banner (Aus), Circuit Land, Joyful Trinity (Ire).
Click for the HKJC.com chart, PPs and sectional timing. Click for the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. VIDEO.
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