WAYNE Seelin never lacks a sense of humour!
The Wyong trainer celebrated a breakthrough at Newcastle on Tuesday with a horse he named in honour of his now retired stable flag-bearer Isorich.
In Iso ($15), a rising five-year-old and ridden by Hawkesbury apprentice Zac Wadick, won the Provincial Maiden Handicap (1600m).
“I paid twice as much for In Iso as I did Isorich, who won his first race (on his home track in April 2014) at his 13thstart,” Seelin said.
“This was In Iso’s 16th start, so he’s not far behind,” he added, tongue-in-cheek.
“But obviously he’s got a long way to go if he is to emulate the old horse’s records.”
Seelin paid $15,000 for In Iso, a son of Starspangledbanner, at the 2021 Inglis Hunter Thoroughbred Breeders’ Association yearling sale in Sydney.
He bought Isorich for $7500 at the Inglis Select yearling sale at Scone in 2012, and the “grand old man” raced a remarkable 155 times for 16 wins and 37 placings, and earned just over $826,000.
Seelin races In Iso in partnership with his father Brian, and was understandably delighted to win another race for him.
“Dad is in his 80s, and going well,” he said.
“When I bought this horse, I considered naming him ‘twiceorich’.
“But I thought that would be a little bit presumptive, so I toned it down a bit.”
Even though In Iso soon will be five years of age, his trainer believes there is further improvement in the gelding.
“I probably made a mistake in racing him too much over shorter distances, but we’ve had meetings washed out and when there is a break of five weeks between runs, you have to drop them back.
“In Iso has been a slow developer and once he has a good spell, I’m sure he will come back even better next season.
“This was a fairly ordinary race at Newcastle, and I was surprised he was at such odds.
“In Iso has been racing consistently at the provincials, whereas the favorite (Monty Be Quick) had run fourth of five runners at Scone at his previous start.”
Seelin was effusive in his praise of In Iso’s rider Wadick, who posted his 61st winner of the season in a career which continues to surge.
“Zac is a good young lad, and always comes out with a plan,” he said.
Iconic Newcastle trainer Paul Perry got a belated birthday present with a home track double.
Perry, who turned 75 on Monday, scored with Majestic Style ($11) and Valentino Prince ($8), boosting his season’s tally to 58, his best since 65 in 2020-21.
Ash Morgan rode Majestic Style in the Benchmark 64 Handicap (2200m), and Adam Hyeronimus had the mount on Valentino Prince in the 3YO & Up CG&E Maiden Plate (1200m).
Gosford’s Angela Davies made it half the program for provincial trainers when her three-year-old Denman Star (Andrew Gibbons) took the closer, the Midway Class 1 Handicap (1200m) at $9.
*Story John Curtis, July 17, 2024 - Pics Bradley Photos
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