Progressive
five year-old Captain Sonador gelding Seasons Bloom captured his first Group I win
at Sha Tin on Sunday when taking out the Group I The Stewards Cup and in so
doing gave Arrowfield Stud's top class sire Not a Single Doubt his first Group
I winner as a broodmare sire.
The Danny Shum trained gelding was having his first run since finishing fourth
in the Group I HK International Mile and powered to the line for Joao Moreira
to win by half a length over the Kiwi bred duo Fifty Fifty and Werther.
"It's a relief!" Shum said after Seasons Bloom had sprinted clear of the best
milers in town in a brisk 1m 34.74s.
"He loves to race fresh, this horse. He was a little bit disappointing on
international day, even though he ran a good race – Joao had to use him a lot
that day and it made it hard for the horse. He came back with blood in his
throat, so we gave him some time off and freshened him up.
"We trialled him and there was no problem; he won first-up this season over
1200 metres, so all of that gave us confidence he could win today."
As for future plans, Shum is considering multiple options, including a step up
to 2000 metres, a distance the son of Captain Sonador attempted last term when
fourth in the BMW Hong Kong Derby.
"We'll talk to the owner and Joao about whether we to the Queen's Silver
Jubilee Cup (1400m) or just go to the Hong Kong Gold Cup (2000m); I'll see in a
few days how the horse has pulled up. We'll see – we could try the 2000
metres," Shum added.
Seasons Bloom has won seven of 16 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.
Pyramisa's Lass was covered by Raheen Stud's Golden Archer last spring.