Seaside Victory At The Creek

The second two-year-old race of the season in Queensland has gone to a graduate of the inaugural Sunshine Stars Yearling Sale.

The Ron Sallis trained and Narissa McMullen driven Seaside Glory finished best in the six-horse field to break maiden ranks at her second start with an impressive performance.

“Like last week, she is still very green,” Sallis said after the win.

“She’s a good pacer but she can run around a bit, she is very green, but she is a lovely filly that is relaxed and won’t kick or bite.”

The late scratching of the morning line favourite -Lieutenant Lou- saw Need Not To Warry take over as the market leader and as the field was released, the six runners quickly formed into single file behind the favourite, My Ultimate Sassy trailing out the back with an early error.

Remaining in that formation until the 800, it was Our Sweet Jess that made the first move, angling out to lead up the one-wide line.

Seaside Glory which was travelling four back in the line gained the perfect cart into the race on the back of Our Sweet Jess as Need Not To Warry led the field through quarters of 28.6 and 31.8.

Approaching the home bend, McMullen eased three wide and despite the filly wanting to have a look around in the stretch, was able to get to the leader and claim a 2.2 metre victory.

The filly was bred by the Seymour’s Solid Earth arm, out of the 15-time winner Remember Ruby who took a lifetime best of 1.54.6.

Sallis purchased the filly at the 2023 Sunshine Stars Sale, going there with the intention of buying a lot by Downbytheseaside.

“My broodmare Opals Delight went to Downbytheseaside, and she missed, so I said to Stacey, when the sales come, we only look at a Downbytheseaside,” he said.

“When we looked at her, we liked her, and I liked this one in particular, because her granddam is Rich Heritage and I was at McCarthy’s when they had her.

“She was a beautiful mare, and this one is similar, a solid, quiet mare.”

The win gave Sallis his sixth training win of the season, with the $14,000 QBRED first win bonus added to the prizemoney, meaning the purchase outlay is almost recovered from the filly.

While there were plenty of smiles after the win, soon after purchasing the filly, things were not so bright for Sallis who was struck down with vertigo the day after the Sunshine Stars Sale that saw him hospitalised.

“Its awful, its terrifying and I was in hospital for a week.

“Geoff Dawson helped me break her in, because I was not well, and I really appreciated the help he gave me.

“But I can laugh about it now because everyone was telling me I got crook because I spent so much money.” Sallis laughed.

After winning her maiden, Sallis is now unsure which direction to head with the filly, potentially leading towards giving her a few days off before tackling the Nutrien Classic Sales Heats on April 9 at The Creek.

Seaside Glory now joins Lieutenant Lou, Sugar Rush and Ohoka Dream as winners already this season from the 2023 Sunshine Stars Sale.