Seasons Bloom Provides a First

Tara Madgwick - Monday November 20
Progressive five year-old Captain Sonador gelding Seasons Bloom captured his first Black Type win at Sha Tin on Sunday when taking out the Group II BOCHK Wealth Management Jockey Club Mile and in so doing gave Arrowfield Stud's top class sire Not a Single Doubt his first stakes-winner as a broodmare sire.

Trained by Danny Shum, he was a leading player in last season's Four-Year-Old Classic Series and took the step up to open company with aplomb under Joao Moreira.

Seasons Bloom - Grant CourtneyHe steamed past the two-time G1 winner Helene Paragon for a half-length success in the 1600 metre feature and is now a leading candidate for the Group I LONGINES Hong Kong Mile (1600m) on 10 December.

"He's a very nice horse and I really think he's going to be right there with them on the big day," said Moreira, who won the HK International Mile on Able Friend in 2014.

"Based on what he's done today, you would think he'd be able to run well in the Hong Kong Mile next time because he beat some of the best horses in Hong Kong today, and he had to make it tough, being exposed three wide.

"Danny left the tactics in my hands; he didn't give me specific instruction, I was happy to help him to get going because he doesn't have much early speed. I was able to cross a few horses and get to a position three off the fence, obviously it wasn't ideal but at least he had cover and I got him to relax in a position just better than midfield.

"Once we straightened up, I held my nerve a little bit and he used pretty much everything he had in the last furlong, and he gave me plenty. Danny gave him a break and that paid off today."

Seasons Bloom has won six of 14 starts and was bred in Queensland by Basil Nolan at Raheen Stud.

He fetched $26,000 for Raheen Stud at the Magic Millions National Weanling Sale where he was purchased by Ampulla Lodge and went on to win a race in Victoria at his second start before he was sold to Hong Kong.

The third stakes-winner for Raheen Stud's ill-fated Captain Sonador, Seasons Bloom is the best of two winners from Pyramisa's Lass, an unraced half-sister by Not a Single Doubt to Group II winner Sharks Bay from the family of Group I winner Mirjulisa Lass.





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