Grail Seeker Wins G1 Telegraph - Iconic Female Family Still Delivering

Media Release - Saturday January 4

Within the space of just two starts as a four-year-old, Grail Seeker has announced her arrival as one of the brightest stars in New Zealand racing.

A first-up winner of the Gr.1 Tarzino Trophy (1400m) at Hastings back at the beginning of September, the Iffraaj mare lined up for her first race in 119 days at Trentham on Saturday and blew her rivals away again in the Gr.1 TAB Telegraph (1200m).

Grail Seeker upon winning the Gr.1 TAB Telegraph (1200m) at Trentham on Saturday.   Photo: Peter Rubery (Race Images Palmerston North)

It was the 40th win of a standout season for trainers Lance O’Sullivan and Andrew Scott, and one of the most rewarding as it brought a 17-week plan to spectacular fruition.

“She’s a very good galloper, there’s no doubt about that, and she really goes well fresh,” Scott said. “We had a big plan to get her here fresh today.

“She’s been to a racecourse every week for the last month, whether it’s trialling, galloping between races or walking around birdcages. It was all about having her ready for this one day today.

“When she arrived on course today, we thought she was bang on. To get this result is massive. I’m very proud of all of our team and of the horse’s performance.”

A two-time winner as a three-year-old including the Gr.2 Wellington Guineas (1400m), Grail Seeker took her career to new heights when she made her four-year-old debut in the Tarzino and brilliantly defeated the likes of Faraglioni, Sacred Satono, Skew Wiff, Waitak, Bonny Lass, Crocetti and Snazzytavi at weight-for-age.

That scintillating performance earned her a reputation that a four-month absence from the racetrack did nothing to diminish, and Grail Seeker started as a $4.40 favourite on Saturday against one of the strongest Telegraph line-ups of the last decade.

Grail Seeker was patiently ridden by Kevin Stott and sat at the tail of the field coming into the home straight. But then Stott spotted an opening between Navigator and the tiring Luberon, driving her through it and unleashing her down the outside.

The result was in little doubt from that point on as Grail Seeker burst to the lead with big, powerful strides. She bounded away through the last 100m, opening up a winning margin of two and a half lengths over Sacred Satono and Navigator.

It was a first Group One victory in New Zealand for Stott, whose tally of almost 700 wins in the United Kingdom and Ireland includes the Gr.1 Phoenix Stakes (1200m) on Bucanero Fuerte and Royal Ascot’s Gr.1 Diamond Jubilee Stakes (1200m) aboard Cambridge Stud shuttle stallion Hello Youmzain.

“She was pretty electric, it was push-button stuff for me on top,” Stott said. “We went at a nice enough speed, and she was comfortable in the soft ground today.

“The team had her spot on for this. She felt really good when I rode her in a trial the other day.

Advertisement

“She was always travelling nicely today. It was just about trying to find the right horse to take me into the race. Once I did have a gap, she had a very good turn of foot and put the race to bed pretty quickly.”

Grail Seeker continued a proud record in the Telegraph for O’Sullivan, who won the sprint showpiece seven times as a jockey with Our Shah (1982), High Regards (1985), Mr Tiz (1989, 1990), O’Reilly (1997), Bawalaksana (1999) and Vinaka (2002).

“I think my father (Dave O’Sullivan) had a similar number of wins as a trainer too,” said O’Sullivan, who watched the race on TV from Saturday’s Te Aroha meeting. “It’s one of the really famous races on our calendar, so to be involved with another winner is a huge thrill.

“After she won the Tarzino in the spring, it was Andrew’s idea to give her a quiet time and set her up to try to win one of the big sprints over the summer. It’s always good when a plan comes off. I’m delighted for the team and delighted for the horse.”

Grail Seeker was offered by her breeders Jamieson Park in Book 1 of Karaka 2022, where Kakapo Lodge bought her for $130,000.

Grail Seeker is a half-sister to stakes-winner Deep Image and is the best of eight winners from nine foals to race from unraced Starwish, who was a savvy purchase for NZ based Jamieson Park, who paid $200,000 for her at the 2015 MM National Broodmare Sale. Starwish is a grand-daughter of Group I winner Stella Cadente, whose grand-dam is celebrated blue hen Eau D’Etoile (NZ), who produced Group I winners Filante, Bint Marscay and Kenny’s Best Pal as well as stakes-winner Eau d’Scay.

This is a family that has offshoots all over Australia and most commercial breeders have had or have some connection to it somewhere!

Click here for pedigree links to all the yearlings in upcoming sales from her family.

Her 11-start career has now produced four wins, four placings and $729,715 in stakes for owners Trevor Clarke and Chris Jones, with the prospect of much more still to come.

“Our approach has been all about trying to get longevity out of her,” Scott said. “She’s a beautiful, big mare, but she’s still only a baby. She’s going to be even better when she’s five.

“Trevor and Chris are incredibly patient people, they’re animal people and they know that being patient now can be rewarded with some real longevity into next season and even the season after that.

“Now the plan is to hopefully get her to the Waikato Sprint (Gr.1, 1400m) next month, and further down the track we might even think about a Stradbroke (Gr.1, 1400m) in Brisbane if we can get in with a light weight.” – LOVERACING.NZ News Desk.

Advertisment

Race Result - TAB Telegraph Gr1 1200m

Trentham Track: Soft(7) Time: 1:07.71
1
Grail Seeker
- 4m Iffraaj (GB) x Starwish (AUS) (Redoute's Choice (AUS))
Tnr: L O'sullivan & A Scott Rdr: K Stott 56.5
2
2.5
Sacred Satono
- 5h Satono Aladdin (JPN) x Belle Joie (NZ) (Mellifont (USA))
Tnr: B Wallace & G Cooksley Rdr: M J Mc Nab 58.5
3
2.6
Navigator
- 5g El Roca (AUS) x Joiya (AUS) (Stravinsky (USA))
Tnr: C W Cole Rdr: R T Elliot 58.5
4
4.4
Skew Wiff
- 5m Savabeel (AUS) x Starvoia (AUS) (Starcraft (NZ))
Tnr: Mark Walker & Sam Bergerson Rdr: L Currie 56.5
5
4.6
Platinum Attack
- 4g Santos (AUS) x Conchita (AUS) (Uncle Mo (USA))
Tnr: Ms L Latta Rdr: J K Riddell 58.5
6
4.7
Bonny Lass
- 6m Super Easy (NZ) x Posh Bec (NZ) (Le Bec Fin (NZ))
Tnr: G Richardson & R Norvall Rdr: C J Grylls 56.5
7
6.2
Mercurial
- 6g Burgundy (NZ) x Roxette (NZ) (Half Century (IRE))
Tnr: S B Marsh Rdr: S C Spratt 58.5
8
6.3
Idyllic
- 6m No Nay Never (USA) x Idlewild (AUS) (Lonhro (AUS))
Tnr: Kevin & Stephen Gray Rdr: K R Hercock 56.5
9
7.2
Waitak
- 5g Proisir (AUS) x Repo Bay (NZ) (Shocking (AUS))
Tnr: L O'sullivan & A Scott Rdr: M Hashizume 58.5
10
7.7
Luberon
- 4m Embellish (NZ) x Elegant Achiever (AUS) (Fastnet Rock (AUS))
Tnr: L R Noble Rdr: Joe Doyle 56.5
More Reading...
Te Akau Stars Warm Up at Taupo Trials
Perennial bridesmaid Qali Al Farrasha headlined a strong contingent of trialists out of Mark Walker and Sam Bergerson’s stable at Taupo on Monday.
One to Watch – Ballarat
Last seen contesting the Group I MRC Blue Diamond Stakes, newly gelded three year-old Olatunde bolted in at Ballarat on Monday continuing the fast start to the new season for his sire Farnan.
Nominees Announced for Australian Racehorse of the Year Awards
The nominees for the prestigious 2024/2025 Australian Racehorse of the Year awards have been announced today by Racing Queensland in association with Racing Australia.
G1 Plans for Wexford Stable Mares
Lance O’Sullivan and Andrew Scott have their sights set on the opening Group One of the season with a pair of talented mares, both of which appeared at the Taupo trials on Monday.
Trans Tasman Options for La Crique
Trainers Simon and Katrina Alexander are contemplating options on both sides of the Tasman with their multiple Group One winner La Crique following her pleasing trial at Taupo on Monday.
G1 Guineas Goal for Unbeaten Snitzel Filly
A quartet of well-performed fillies from Stephen Marsh’s stable took their first steps toward upcoming age group features when they stepped out at the Taupo trials on Monday.
Sires With Winners - Sunday August 3
Here is the full list of 57 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Too Darn Hot Mare Claims Third G1
Too Darn Hot (GB) will be a returning superstar to Darley NSW this spring and there is no doubt he can get an exceptional horse with Fallen Angel capturing her third Group I in France on Sunday when taking out the G1 Prix Rothschild (1m) at Deauville.
New SW Iffraaj - Grail Seeker Wins G2 Wellington Guineas
Australian hoop Kyle Wilson-Taylor has made his first visit to New Zealand a memorable one by guiding promising filly Grail Seeker to a hollow victory in the Gr.2 Life Direct Wellington Guineas (1400m) at Trentham.
Zed 9YO Wins G3 Winter Cup
Saturday’s $110,000 Group Three Winning Edge Presentations Winter Cup (1600m) at Riccarton continued an incredible ride for the connections of Chase (NZ) (Zed), who bought him for only $9,000 from Book 3 of Karaka 2018. Originally a $6,000 purchase by JD Corcoran when offered as a weanling from Valachi Downs in the 2017 National Weanling, Broodmare & Mixed Bloodstock Sale.