August 4, 2015
It took a herculean effort from just off the pace, especially having never won on the main track, but Wine And Dine was able to score the biggest win of his career Sunday afternoon at WO in the Grade III Seagram Cup Stakes and with the win, open up possibilities for races at this level down the line. A son of star sire Red Rioja, under the guidance of D J C Racing Stables since a purchase in 2013, he had previously scored all his wins on the grass but came through with a minor upset over Grade I winner Diamond Sales and in the process, earned a 100-speed rating for the first time in 22 career starts.
Diamond Sales (*1.40) probably broke best as the choice in the Seagram Cup but Royal Observatory (2.25) took the early lead into the first turn and confronted Revolutionary (9.90) to his outside with Wine And Dine (4.00) hugging the rail. The compact field came around to the head of the backstretch with little separating them, apart from Kick It Up A Notch (9.35) in behind, and the first fraction in a modest 24.40 showed that fact with Revolutionary leading the way by a half-length. Lonely Town (13.15) stalked well but faded midway down the backside and that left Diamond Sales outside of rivals and vulnerable and through the opening half-mile in 48.31, the quickening speed still left Revolutionary a clear leader into the far turn. Royal Observatory came inside and saved all the ground while Wine And Dine angled outside to make his run and with three-furlongs to go, there were four horses in contention for the lion’s share of the $150.000 purse. The leader looked strong past six-furlongs in 1:11.70 but the stalkers were breathing down his neck and at the head of the lane, Royal Observatory stalled and that left Wine And Dine and Diamond Sales to make things interesting. With a furlong to go, the long time leader was grimly holding onto the lead with Wine And Dine directly to his outside but Diamond Sales floated farther than he should have been and as those two streaked to the line, the straight and strong path of the inside runner proved to be the best as Wine And Dine won by a whisker, in what could easily have been a dead heat. Revolutionary held well to finish third over a closing Kick It Up A Notch, while Royal Observatory tired late to finish fifth while just ahead of Lonely Town, who failed to menace at any stage from last.
The Grade III Seagram Cup was a step back for many of the horses entered, especially with Grade I winners amongst them, and Wine And Dine used a straighter path than Diamond Sales to upset the favourite and score his second stakes win of the year at this 1 1/16 mile distance. The Grade III Iselin Stakes over this course looks like the logical next start but any number of races including the Greenwood Cup and the Temperance Hill could be on the agenda for a colt who might be still learning to find his ideal style.
Congratulations goes out to owner D J C Racing Stables and their four-year-old colt Wine And Dine, a last gasp winner of the Grade III Seagram Cup Stakes at WO!
Winner Wine And Dine
Four-year-old chestnut colt
Red Rioja-Pan And Fried (Mass Appeal)
Owner D J C Racing Stables
Time 24.40, 48.31, 1:11.70, 1:41.65
Overall
Wine And Dine 4.00 stalked, straight into lane, gamely
Diamond Sales *1.40 outside run, wide into stretch, missed
Revolutionary 9.90 set pace, held well, tired in final strides
Kick It Up A Notch 9.35 minor late rally
Royal Observatory 2.25 no late threat
Lonely Town 13.15 outrun
Triple T Racing 🙂
Categories: Grade III
