So You Thinks Midnight Blue Triumphs in Seymour Cup

Mark Smith - Sunday October 13

Midnight Blue was purchased by Te Akau Racing’s David Ellis for $92,500 when offered by Bob Peters through Inglis Digital after finishing fifth in the 2023 Seymour Cup. Twelve months on Midnight Blue captured Sunday’s $200,000 Listed Bet 365 Seymour Cup (1600m).

Midnight Blue wins Seymour Cup before an enthusiastic crowd (image Brett Holburt/Racing Photos)

Trained by Mark Walker, the 8-year-old son of So You Think was given a peach by Daniel Stackhouse at his first start in 18 weeks. Settled third on the fence, Midnight Blue did not go around a horse to defeat the 7-year-old Australia (GB) gelding Earl Of Tyrone, who was making his Australian debut for Ciaron Maher, by a length. Last year’s Sale Cup winner, Maktoob (Awtaad) was three-quarters of a length back in third.

The 2022 Group II WATC Perth Cup winner, when trained by Grant and Alana Williams, Midnight Blue, advances his record to seven wins, five seconds, and five thirds from 34 starts with earnings of $902,325.

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“Credit to the team, with had him for nearly a year, and he has a new lease on life,” assistant trainer Ben Gleeson said.

“His last jump out was super, and in the last week, his coat is glowing with dapples like apples. I’m thrilled for the connections who committed to go back in to him, and they have been rewarded.

“There is a nice race on the last day of the carnival, the Country Cup Final worth half a million. Four weeks to that is probably the perfect lead-up.”

Bred by Peters Investments, Midnight Blue is one of three stakes winners for the Zabeel mare Midnight Special.

A sister to Group III Naturalism Stakes winner Rainbow Styling, Midnight Special is the dam of Group II ARC Great Northern Guineas, Group II Tauranga Stakes, and Group II ARC Easter Handicap winner Demonetization (All Too Hard) and dual Listed winner Neverland (Big Brown), who was runner-up twice in the Perth Cup.

Big fan club (image Brett Holburt/Racing Photos)

Bob Peters sold Midnight Special for $80,000 at the 2021 Inglis March (Early) Online Sale. She was sold empty after being given a year off in 2020.

Midnight Special has a 2-year-old Highland Reel (IRE) filly named High Mulan and a yearling filly by Pierro. She visited Toronado (Ire) last spring.

So You Think

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Race Result - Bet 365 Seymour Cup LR 1600m

Seymour Track: Good(4) Time: 1:36.65
1
Midnight Blue
- 8g So You Think (NZ) x Midnight Special (AUS) (Zabeel (NZ))
Tnr: M W Walker Rdr: D W Stackhouse 56
So You Think
2
1
Earl Of Tyrone
- 7g Australia (GB) x Affirmative (GB) (Pivotal (GB))
Tnr: C Maher Rdr: Ethan Brown 57.5
3
1.8
Maktoob
- 6g Awtaad (IRE) x Mudawanah (GB) (Dansili (GB))
Tnr: Simon Zahra Rdr: Liam Riordan 54
4
2.5
Second To Nun
- 5m Akeed Mofeed (GB) x Tidy Prophet (AUS) (Keep The Faith (AUS))
Tnr: W Clarken & N O'Shea Rdr: Damian Lane 55.5
5
2.7
Caste
- 5m Sir Prancealot (IRE) x Boat Quay (AUS) (Belong To Me (USA))
Tnr: Ben, Will & Jd Hayes Rdr: Patrick Moloney 54
6
3
Jimi Hendrix
- 6g New Bay (GB) x Planchart (USA) (Gio Ponti (USA))
Tnr: Annabel Neasham & Rob Archibald Rdr: J Mott 58
7
4
Carini
- 6g Siyouni (FR) x Candarliya (FR) (Dalakhani (IRE))
Tnr: D T O'Brien Rdr: Beau Mertens 54.5
8
4.4
Pounding
- 6g Exceed And Excel (AUS) x Silent Entrance (GB) (Beat Hollow (GB))
Tnr: P G Moody & Katherine Coleman Rdr: L Nolen 57.5
9
5.1
Earlswood
- 7g Pivotal (GB) x Field Of Miracles (IRE) (Galileo (IRE))
Tnr: Gavin Bedggood Rdr: John Allen 55.5
10
7.4
Hell Hath No Fury
- 5m Hellbent (AUS) x Diamond Cove (AUS) (Octagonal (NZ))
Tnr: Annabel Neasham & Rob Archibald Rdr: Jye McNeil 54
11
8.1
Grandslam
- 7g Myboycharlie (IRE) x Mine Game (AUS) (General Nediym (AUS))
Tnr: C Maher Rdr: H Coffey 54
12
8.1
Foxy Cleopatra
- 5m American Pharoah (USA) x Casuarina Forest (AUS) (Fastnet Rock (AUS))
Tnr: T Busuttin & N Young Rdr: D Moor 54
13
8.9
Don't Doubt Dory
- 8g Fiorente (IRE) x Doubt No More (AUS) (Not A Single Doubt (AUS))
Tnr: J R Welsh Rdr: Carleen Hefel 54
14
9.6
Antrim Coast
- 4g Roc De Cambes (NZ) x Coasting (NZ) (Sakhee's Secret (GB))
Tnr: S J Richards Rdr: M J Dee 57.5
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