Bloodstock South Africa graduate, Seattle Choice, made a big impression when he landed the Mei Lam Handicap at Sha Tin racecourse on Sunday.
Trained by Tony Millard, the gelded four-year-old hit the front two furlongs from home, and pulled clear, under Joao Moreira, to register a three and a half length win.
Bred by the Ascot Stud, Seattle Choice was sent off favourite for Sunday’s 1400m contest, the ninth and penultimate race on the Sha Tin card.
Making just his fourth start in Hong Kong, the William Elkin Mocatta owned Seattle Choice came into Sunday’s seven furlong contest having finished second, beaten a nose, over 1400 metres.
A R600 000 purchase from the 2017 National Yearling Sale, Seattle Choice made only three starts in South Africa, winning his final two starts impressively.
He is a son of Ascot’s late, Mt. Sassafras Stakes winning stallion Sail From Seattle (Gone West – Seattle Classic), a regally bred close relative of multiple champion sire Smart Strike and Breeders’ Cup winning champion Dance Smartly, among others.
During his brief stud career, Sail From Seattle left behind a plethora of high-class performers notably the graded stakes winners Elusive Gold, Gulf Storm, Pacific Trader, Via Seattle, Tommy Gun, and Seattle Singer.
Seattle Choice, a half-brother to G3 Final Fling Stakes winning millionaire Silvan Star, is out of the winning Lecture mare Bold Choice, a half-sister to the Ascot Stud bred champion Bold Silvano.
Bold Choice herself has a Silvano filly at foot and is back in foal to Ascot’s exciting young sire Global View, who currently tops South Africa’s Leading First Crop Sire list.
-bsa.co.za
