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Stephen Marsh’s hopes of a Group One victory during the Wellington Cup carnival have been given a significant boost.
The Cambridge trainer produced Seize The Moment to defeat his stablemate Thee Auld Floozie in the Gr.3 Tui-Back A Winner Since 1889 Anniversary on Saturday ahead of their rematch in a fortnight’s time.
“They’ll both be back for the Thorndon Mile,” Marsh’s travelling foreman Rhys Mildon said.Seize The Moment, whose stablemate Akoya had also won earlier in the day, raced outside the leader and he was in front on straightening after the pacemaker La Fille En Jeu caved in and he held a strong gallop to the post.
“It’s good to see the big boy back and Stephen was very confident,” Mildon said.“Thee Auld Floozie gave him a good fight, but he got there in the end. She tried hard, but it was his day today.”
Successful rider Matt Cameron said Seize The Moment had been left in front a long way from home, but his fighting qualities weren’t to be denied.“He did it tough outside the leader and when the second horse came up he fought really well.
“He’s a horse that loves a dog fight and he’s as tough as they come.”Now the winner of seven races, Seize The Moment finished runner-up to Mabeel in the Anniversary 12 months ago under 58kg when the race was run under handicap conditions.
He was a major beneficiary of the subsequent change to set weights and penalties and came into the race this time around with three kilos less.