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Line Seeker wins Griffin Trophy

28/12/2014

Line Seeker led throughout and held on desperately in the closing stages to hold off Sky Hero to win the Griffin Trophy by a narrow margin at Sha Tin racecourse today.

Strathmore pressed the winner from the start and finished third with Dashing Fellow fourth in this HK$2 million contest.

The win was the second in a row for Line Seeker, sent off as top favourite in a field of 13.  The son of O'Reilly, ridden by Zac Purton, covered the 1400m distance in 1m 21.70s, with the final 400m in 22.95s.

“He really got tired the last bit but he ran a 22.06s in the middle and he did a bit,” said winning trainer Paul O’Sullivan, who teamed up with Purton to win the G1 LONGINES Hong Kong Sprint with Aerovelocity a fortnight ago.

O'Sullivan said he may drop Line Seeker back to 1200m for his next start, but he was more than glowing in his assessment of the O’Reilly gelding's ability.

“You won’t be seeing him for another two, three runs this season. He could come back and be a nice sprinter later on,” the New Zealand handler said. “He is a very skinny, long horse but he is very athletic. He is never going to be big and strong like me.”

Last year's Griffin Trophy featured horses such as Luger and Domineer, both rated now in triple digits.

Photo 1, 2: Paul O��Sullivan-trained Line Seeker (No. 3), ridden by Zac Purton, holds off the late challenge of Sky Hero (No.4) to win the Griffin Trophy (1400m) at Sha Tin racecourse today.
Photo 1:
Photo 1, 2: Paul O��Sullivan-trained Line Seeker (No. 3), ridden by Zac Purton, holds off the late challenge of Sky Hero (No.4) to win the Griffin Trophy (1400m) at Sha Tin racecourse today.


Photo 2

Jubilant connections of Line Seeker celebrate their success after the race.
Photo 3:
Jubilant connections of Line Seeker celebrate their success after the race.

Photo 4, 5, 6: At the presentation ceremony, Club Steward Margaret Leung presents the Griffin Trophy to Christabel Lee Shang Yuee, owner of race winner Line Seeker, winning trainer Paul O��Sullivan and jockey Zac Purton.
Photo 4:
Photo 4, 5, 6: At the presentation ceremony, Club Steward Margaret Leung presents the Griffin Trophy to Christabel Lee Shang Yuee, owner of race winner Line Seeker, winning trainer Paul O��Sullivan and jockey Zac Purton.


Photo 5


Photo 6

Club Chairman Dr Simon Ip (back row, 1st from right), Club Stewards, CEO Winfried Engelbrecht-Bresges (back row, 1st from left), and connections of Griffin Trophy winner Line Seeker smile for cameras at the presentation ceremony.
Photo 7:
Club Chairman Dr Simon Ip (back row, 1st from right), Club Stewards, CEO Winfried Engelbrecht-Bresges (back row, 1st from left), and connections of Griffin Trophy winner Line Seeker smile for cameras at the presentation ceremony.

 

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