Seymour Strikes In Sales Feature

Kevin Seymour has worn many titles during his time in harness racing.

The Queensland based leviathan can now add another title.

He has earned the nickname of ‘King of the Cliffe” following the victory of Leos Best in last night’s (Friday) Gr.2 $80,000 Garrards Redcliffe Yearling Sales Series No.7 Final at the Redcliffe Paceway.

Heading into the feature, Seymour has won all but one of the five features staged at the bayside track.

Seymour has won the Redcliffe Cup, Derby, Oaks and the Patrons Purse.

Now, the crown is complete.

Only graduates of the annual yearling sale are eligible to compete in the sales race and Seymour purchased the Cammibest – Miss Marleo gelding on the recommendation of his trainer Grant Dixon.

There is a direct connection with this horse and Seymour with Miss Marleo hailing from the Goldrush Girl family, a family that Seymour has enjoyed considerable success with over a long period of time.

Leos Best was bred by Martine Dwyer.

It is the first time Seymour has bought a yearling from the Redcliffe sale owing to the fact he breeds his own stock at a large level each and every year but the fact that Racing Queensland introduced breeding vouchers to owners who raced QBRED stock meant that he had money to spend via the certificates he had gathered throughout the year.

“We paid $13,000 for this horse and it was all through the QBRED vouchers, this was the last sale of the year and we thought it was best to use rather than waste them. He’s turned out to be a very cheap buy, very cheap indeed. I actually bred the mare before selling her so the pedigree is very familiar to me.” Seymour said.

Leos Best managed to scrape into the rich final after finishing third in his heat the previous week behind Aussie Vista and Mucho Macho Man.

The top two placegetters automatically qualified for the final while the two fastest third placegetters also gained a start from the four heats conducted.

As it turned out, Leos Best was the final horse to qualify.

Leos Best was one of three horses qualified for the rich final by Grant Dixon and he opted to drive the gelding in preference to heat winner Shezabonnygem and Earl Jujon.

Sent off at big odds, Leos Best sat back in the field while several of the fancied runners went to war in the 1780m event.

With Dixon biding his time, he unwound a big finishing burst over the concluding stages to surge past a game Mucho Macho Man while Timmo Time finished third.

“We got very lucky in many ways with this horse, it’s a good story to tell now but all credit must go to Grant because he selected the horse and he’s done all the preparation work in readiness for this series and now it’s paid off.

“Grant was concerned by the draw but luck was clearly on our side and he was the last man standing, it’s a great thrill because it wasn’t expected. I’m sure Grant will look at the Breeders Classic series and the Triad in the coming weeks.”

Cammibest, who stands at Burwood Stud at Pittsworth on the Darling Downs for Noel and Christine Denning, has now produced back to back winners of the race after Mathilda Diventa scored last year.

Burwood Stud has produced the winner of this event for five straight years.

Meanwhile, the Gr.3 $30,000 Comfort Inn and Suites Northgate Redcliffe Derby went the way of local pacer Admiral Bronski and driver Shane Graham after he came through via the passing lane to run down Sydney pacer and race favourite Aztec Bromac with Young American a close-up third.

Prepared by Mick Grant at Deception Bay, Admiral Bronski sat in the trail behind Aztec Bromac throughout before sprinting quickly in the home straight while Aztec Bromac looked uncomfortable handling the final bend.

The Derby success adds to his Breeders Classic triumph earlier this season.

The Art Major – Bronski Gorgeous colt has now won 9 of his 29 starts while amassing more than $125,000 in prizemoney.

Admiral Bronski is raced by Adam Nasso.

by Chris Barsby