Tuesday, August 05, 2008

Seaside Retreat captures Nijinsky Stakes

TORONTO, August 4 - Seaside Retreat carved out a new course record in Monday's Grade 2, $300,000 Nijinksy Stakes at Woodbine.

The Mark Casse trainee zipped 1 1/4 miles in 2:00.68, shaving 0.08 seconds off the mark set by Mrs. Lindsay in last year's E.P. Taylor Stakes.

Seaside Retreat finished one length in front of a game American invader in Strike a Deal, who now has five graded stakes placings in the past two years. French Beret closed to be third.


A five-year-old gelding owned by Will Farish, Jr., Seaside Retreat was ridden to victory by Patrick Husbands, who said one of the keys was a cat-and-mouse game between him and jockey Slade Callaghan, aboard Rahy's Attorney.

"I had a problem before the race," said Husbands. "One of the speed horses was Slade (Callaghan) and he's not going to go to the lead. I had to get to the outside of him. I don't want to sprint home and get beat sprinting home. I tried (to get outside of) Slade down the back twice and he let me out. From there I knew it would (take) a tough horse to beat him coming home."

Husbands said the bay son of King Cugat broke awkwardly in the Nijinksy.

"I nearly fell off, the first jump," said Husbands. "He has a mind of his own. Now he's getting back to where he was when he was two and three.

Seaside Retreat was absent from the races from February 2007 to April 2008 with a few different injuries. Casse said he's pleased with how he has returned.

"I think he's always been a talented horse. Maybe, we got a little bit of Derby fever and maybe it messed us up a little bit. We enjoyed the experience. His pedigree has always said grass. It just took us a little while to get there. We've had a few bumps along the road."

Casse, who is one victory from the 1,000-win plateau, saluted the patient approach of his owner.

"It's nice when you have an owner like Bill (Farish, Jr.), who never questions what you do. We gave this horse a lot of time. (He) never once asked, 'Are you going to get him back.' He's always done what's best for the horse. It has paid off."

Seaside Retreat is now a seven-time winner from 19 starts. The $180,000 winner's share of the purse elevated the Kentucky-bred's career earnings to $891,851.

Casse suggested the Northern Dancer Breeders' Cup Turf (September 7) may be next for Seaside Retreat.

"If we can keep him training every morning and behaving, that's where we'll go next," said Casse.

Husbands said he has another goal in mind.

"Right now, we're looking forward to the International," he said, referring to the 1 1/2-mile classic, worth $2 million on October 4.

Seaside Retreat returned $12.60, $4.40, $3.50, combining with Strike a Deal ($2.60, $2.30) for an exactor worth $28.50. French Beret ($4.60) rounded out a triactor worth $179.20.

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