Prolific winner Seen Im heads to Quirindi on Thursday for his final lead-up to next month’s $20,000 Bowraville Cup.
Prepared by Sandra McCormack at Armidale, the 11 time-winning seven-year-old tackles the Quirindi Auto Electrical Service Benchmark 65 Hcp (1200m).
McCormack expects the gelding to improve sharply on his first-up performance when 5-1/4-lengths sixth to All Again over 1200m at Tamworth on June 3.
“He needs to run to get ready for the Bowraville Cup (1370m on July 3),” McCormack said.
“That’s the race we’ve picked out for him.
“His coat’s still woolly, we haven’t clipped him, it’s been too cold, but he’s definitely tightened up since Tamworth.
“I was happy enough with his first run back, he ran well. We weren’t able to trial him or give him a jumpout.
“He generally improves second-up.”
Seen Im, the winner of more than $135,000, has been a versatile performer winning from 1100m to 1412m and has two wins and a second from seven second-up attempts.
McCormack, however, rued the gelding’s wide barrier (15).
“You wouldn’t believe it, guess I forgot to put some money in the church till,” she said.
“At this stage we’ve got our fingers crossed he can have some luck.
“He’s come back in good order. Right now the horse is jumping out of his skin. He’s great.
“We had a few hoof problems early but they’ve been rectified.”
Seen Im was most unlucky not to snare another country Cup last campaign.
“Yeah, he was very unlucky in the Inverell and Glen Innes Cups,” McCormack said.
“He’s a tough old bugger, a very solid horse and loves his racing.
“I’d love a stable full of horses like him. He’s The King at home.
“He can have his moments but is a lovely horse to do anything with.”
To offset Seen Im’s 63kg impost, McCormack has engaged three kilogram-claiming apprentice Daniel Pitomac.
McCormack will also saddle up new stable acquisition Status King in the B & B Hair Studio Class 1 (1200m) with Geoffrey Snowden in the saddle.
“It’s his second run for us. He’s going along nicely. Hopefully he can race well tomorrow and come up to the mark,” McCormack said.
AAP TURF
