Grail Seeker (NZ) Spectacular in Guineas

On the same day as the Group One New Zealand Oaks (2400m) confirmed the NZB Filly of the Year title for Molly Bloom (NZ) (Ace High), her trainers Lance O’Sullivan and Andrew Scott also made their mark at Trentham on Saturday with another highly talented three-year-old filly.

Wexford Stables won the $175,000 Group Two Life Direct Wellington Guineas (1400m) in scintillating style with Molly Bloom’s stablemate Grail Seeker (NZ) (Iffraaj), who was a $130,000 purchase from Jamieson Park’s Book 1 draft at Karaka 2022. She has now had eight starts for two wins, four placings and $177,465 in stakes.

Previously a placegetter in the Group Two Eight Carat Classic (1600m), Group Three Eulogy Stakes (1600m) and Listed Trevor & Corallie Eagle Memorial (1500m), Grail Seeker had a well-deserved turn in the spotlight in Saturday’s Guineas.

Grail Seeker was ridden by visiting Australian jockey Kyle Wilson-Taylor and settled near the back of the field before producing an explosive finish in the straight. She burst to the front and powered clear, opening up a winning margin of two and three-quarter lengths over Witz End (NZ) (Savabeel).

“Jeez, what a good filly,” Wilson-Taylor said. “She got me out of a bit of trouble and she was just dominant.

“I had planned to get back and ride for luck and I’m just pumped. She has a very short, sharp turn of foot and we were able to ride her to execute that. I’m just very thankful for the opportunity and it is great to ride a good winner here.”

Scott was delighted to see Grail Seeker break through with her first black-type win after a series of strong performances in stakes company.

“She was pretty dominant there and it is great for Kyle to come over and ride her and a huge thrill for Team Wexford,” Scott said. “She really deserved a win like this – it would have been a real shame if she had gone to the paddock without a win like that in her three-year-old campaign.

“She has a good future. She is a big, raw filly who is only going to get better with age.”

Guineas runner-up Witz End was a $200,000 purchase by Pike Racing from the 2022 Ready to Run Sale, while the third-placed New Millennium (NZ) (Charm Spirit) was bought by Ben Kwok for $50,000 from Book 1 of Karaka 2022.