SEEFELD BY A NOSTRIL

By Graham Potter | Sunday, April 2, 2023

The Robert Heathcote trained Seefeld came into a BM58 Handicap over 1800m at the Sunshine Coast on April 2 on the back of a gallant third placing over 1600m in the same class at the same track two weeks earlier.

Seefeld, who was being ridden by Mark Du Plessis for the first time there, raced well back early on that occasion (all of ten to twelve lengths off the early leaders) before showing good acceleration for the majority of the home straight when chasing home as the widest runner. He did peak on his run late, but that third placing was still full of merit.

Stepping up an extra 200m to the 1800m trip here, Seefeld was sent out as the $3.60 second favourite behind the Chris Waller trained main fancy Different Road ($2.40).

These two runners would indeed fight out the finish, but the result would go in the reverse order to that shown on the betting boards with Seefeld doing just enough to gain the win by a very narrow and fast diminishing margin.

Du Plessis had Seefeld racing closer this time from the number one barrier draw ... still in midfield though, but only four lengths off the speed in the early part. That deficit went out to six lengths mid-race when the $26 outsider Hot Bananas made an early breakaway at the head of affairs.

Du Plessis remained supremely patient on the Heathcote trained runner while saving ground throughout the sweep to the home turn and, with the balance of the field switching out a little wider on the track on straightening, Seefeld was presented with a clear run to the line as the race went on in earnest.

Just inside the 300m Seefeld was up into fifth place, but a couple of runners to his outside had got first run on him, most notable Seefeld’s market rival Different Road who was arriving on the scene quickly, with gathering momentum, looking every inch the winner at that stage.

But Seefeld wasn’t done yet.

Over the last 250, the four-year-old son of Sebring not only matched the strong finishing effort that Different Road was producing, but Du Plessis managed to coax that little bit extra of out Seefeld, whose willingness to compete was there for all to see by the way he literally stuck his head out to deny the favourite by 0.10 lengths.

As well as the ability that this victory exposed, it took brave commitment by Seefeld to get the job done to claim his second career victory.

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