Runner-up in last year's Group II Queensland Guineas, the Ocean Park gelding Seaway put a belated stakes win on the board in Saturday's Listed Winter Challenge (1500m) at Rosehill Gardens.
Given a positive ride by Tommy Berry, Seaway sat outside the pacesetting Cradle Mountain and when he was eased out of the race, Seaway found himself out in front a long way from home.
The Chris Waller-trained gelding held the challenge of Goodfella (Snitzel) by a neck with the winner's stablemate Eckstein (I Am Invincible) a short-neck back in third. (image Steve Hart)
Waller said he was not concerned that Seaway had not started for a month.
"He's won some good races for Denise (Martin) and the team. He goes well fresh and we pulled him out two weeks ago when it was a bit wet so four weeks (between runs), from the wide draw, he was well ridden and came away with a nice win," Waller said.
"He was straight outside the leader, backed off the speed, making it hard for the horses behind. Eckstein got home well considering how the race was run so it was a good result for the stable.
"I think he is a Group II type of horse, a Shannon Stakes type of horse, he maybe a rough Epsom chance but realistically the lead up races would be pretty special if he could win a few more."
Seaway advances his record to 6 wins and 4 seconds from 15 starts with earnings of $377,425.
Purchased by Star Thoroughbreds for $210,000 out of the Waikato Stud draft at the 2016 NZB Premier Yearling Sale at Karaka, Seaway is a half-brother to Kiwi Karma a Group II winner in Singapore.
His 4-time winning dam Miss Purrfection (One Cool Cat) is a half-sister to the Group II QTC Sir Byrne Hart Stakes winner and Group 1 WRC Telegraph Hcp runner-up Cheiron (Centaine).
Miss Purrfection has a 2yo filly by Sacred Falls that was purchased by John O'Shea for $60,000 at Karaka in 2018 and a weanling filly by Sacred Falls. She was bred back to the dual Group 1 Doncaster Mile winner again last spring.
From the first crop of Waikato Stud's 5-time Group 1 winner Ocean Park, Seaway becomes that stallions third stakes winner after the Group II QTC Queensland Guineas winner Kolding and Listed WATC Placid Ark Stakes winner Ocean Jewel.
