The big guns are coming out for the $150,000 bet365 Seymour Cup, now just 38 days away.
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Victorian jockey of the year Linda Meech combined with high-profile trainers Mathew Ellerton and Simon Zahra last week to win the $35,000 bet365 Seymour Cup 20/10 over 1600m.
A promotional run for the cup, one of the biggest on the regional circuit, the Thursday win was also a breakthrough event for three-year-old gelding Brilliant Venture – breaking his maiden at his fifth start.
Speaking before the race, Zahra said he had high hopes for the horse after it ran greenly when hitting the front at its previous start.
“He just sort of got the wanders the other day when he hit the front so hopefully we can get him to run with some cover and then get him out to the middle of the track where it seems to be playing a bit better,” he said.
“The horse is coming near to the end of this prep but if he gets a nice run he will be hard to run down,” he said.
Brilliant Venture jumped well from its wide draw, one off the pace being set by bolter Rippling Waters before Meech started to ease back and tuck in behind other runners.
Coming off the back Meech had the horse on the outside of Frankie Blue Eyes as they turned for home.
As they passed the 400m, Meech was riding perfectly to plan, shifting the 7/2 backed Brilliant Venture towards the middle of the track and giving him his head.
With four across the track, Brilliant Venture responded to Meech’s urging and hit the line running away – the ride a textbook example of why she has become the first woman to win the overall Victorian Jockey’s Premiership (and achieved that success despite missing two months with a broken collarbone).
Zahra said the win was pleasing but also showed the horse still had a way to go.
“He’s not a bad horse, this bloke,” he said.
“He was bought in the South Island (of New Zealand) and he’s backward, and still doing a bit wrong.
“Obviously Linda waited on him a bit today after he went for home the other day and had a good look around, so she was a bit patient today.
“He’s going to be a good autumn horse because what you saw here today, he is doing raw.”
On a 10-race card local trainers were not able to land a winner but jockey Ben Melham did manage to put together an early double – winning the first of the day, the $35,000 JBL Catering Plate over 1300m with My Blue Wings for John and Chris Meagher and then the fourth, $35,000 United Insurance Group maiden over 1200m with There You Are for Henry Dwyer.
After saluting with There You Are Melham said he may have been riding him a little too close in previous starts “but today given some time he chased down well and he is a nice, progressive horse”.
“He’s still lightly raced and still learning his craft, he’s a horse with a real bit of potential.”
Seymour’s next meeting is October 3, followed by the cup on October 20.
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