Sweynesse to get Grail Seeker’s spring back on track
Richard Edmunds • October 11th, 2025 10:30 AM
Through no fault of her own, Grail Seeker was unable to replicate her 2024 heroics in the first Group One of the season last month, but her connections see Sunday’s Gr. 3 Sweynesse Stakes at Rotorua as a chance to get the dual Group One winner’s spring back on track.
Grail Seeker was a breakthrough star of New Zealand weight-for-age ranks in the 2024-25 season, bursting on to the scene with dynamic and dominant come-from-behind victories in the Gr. 1 Tarzino Trophy and Telegraph.
The daughter of Iffraaj headed to Ellerslie on September 6 to defend her crown in the Tarzino, which is now known as the Proisir Plate. But she barely saw daylight in the 1400-metre feature and crossed the line in 12th place, four lengths behind the winner Quintessa.
“It was no one’s fault, but she just didn’t really get a lot of luck in the race,” co-trainer Andrew Scott told RaceForm. “Most of the field raced in very tight quarters, and she’s a big mare that needs to have a little bit of room, which she just never quite got.
“She ended up having a reasonably quiet run – no more than a trial, really.
“While the result was a little bit frustrating, it indicated that she’s going well. Had she got the breaks, I’m not saying she would have won, but we believe she would have run well and quickened with them.”
Scott and his training partner Lance O’Sullivan have been delighted with Grail Seeker’s progress through the five weeks since that race.
“We gave her a week out at the farm to freshen up,” Scott said. “Through that week, followed by a week of trotting and cantering, she put on 23 kilos and really came on in the coat.
“She galloped between races at Matamata on Saturday. Opie (Bosson) rode her – he was going to ride her this weekend until he got suspended. He was thrilled with how she felt, and we really thought it was right up there with some of the better work she’s done.
“She worked well again this (Tuesday) morning, so we think the fitness levels are there. She looks great. If anything, she’s going into this race better than she was for Ellerslie.
“Masa Hashizume will take the mount. He’s ridden her in a few trials, so he knows her well and she’s trialled well for him.
“After a couple of runs that have been a bit below her best, we’re looking for a performance this weekend that will hopefully get things back on track for her.
“We hope the track might come back a wee bit from Heavy10. If it can get back into that soft range, we think that might be footing that will really suit her.”
Grail Seeker headlines a talented team for Wexford Stables across this weekend’s northern meetings at Rotorua on Sunday and Taupo on Friday.
“Smart Love is a mare who’s shown quite a lot in her short career to date,” Scott said. “She’d trialled well leading into her resuming run at Te Rapa last month, and then it was very encouraging the way she came back and won so well first-up. Her assignment at Rotorua is another step up, but we think she can take that step.
“We’re also looking forward to Yamato Satona on Sunday. He’s trialled well on the track there at Rotorua and we think he’s a nice middle-distance three-year-old in the making.
“At Taupo, General Menari is another one who’s trialled nicely, and he has a good draw to work with on Friday.
“Woman In Charge, her debut run for second at Taupo was very encouraging and she’s made particularly good progress since then.”
