Conquest Seelster conquers career debut

Conquest Seelster proved the best harness racing debutante at Rideau Carleton Raceway on Thursday (Jun. 23) as the All Bets Off gelding defeated seven two-year-old pacing opponents.

Leading driver Guy Gagnon gave his trainee a golden trip. He allowed Gritty (Jacques Beaudoin) to take point and enjoyed pocket positioning. The former travelled through :29, 1:00.1, and 1:29 fractions without pressure, but he fell victim to a final turn charge from Conquest Seelster.

Conquest Seelster circled the leader quickly and tore away to score by four-and-a-half lengths in 1:57.4 with a :28.1 final quarter.

Gritty held onto second over a closing Light The Torch (Stephane Pouliot).

Catheline Pelletier of Mirabel paid $20,000 for Conquest Seelster at the London Selected sale. The gelding is the first foal out of Mach Three mare Call It Courage to hit the track.

Also on the card, Beyond Kronos (Muscle Hill) captured his first Rideau top-level win with a coast-to-coast score in the Preferred Handicap Trot. Marie-Claude Auger steered the five-year-old stallion to the 1:55.3 win for trainer Sam Sergi, who co-owns with Michael Sergi. The horse placed in the Kindergarten final at two and has since found a home in the Ontario conditioned ranks.

BEYOND KRONOS REPLAY

Rideau Carleton Raceway’s next card on Sunday, Jun. 26 gives the Preferred Handicap pacers a turn to shine. The racing is set to begin at 6:30 p.m. EDT.

For complete race results, click here.

by Nicholas Barnsdale, for Harnesslink