Cover image courtesy of Racing Photos
The man who bred impressive 2-year-old colt Shining Smile (Spirit Of Boom), Scott Seamer, was instantly impressed with his calm demeanour on his property at Fernleigh in northern New South Wales.
And that calmness was on display on Wednesday, the young Lindsay Park sprinter showing an improved level of maturity to record a classy 0.5l victory under jockey Daniel Stackhouse in the handicap for 2-year-olds over 1000 metres at Caulfield.
Wanting to over-race last start, he still finished third in a competitive G3 Maribyrnong Plate for 2-year-olds on Melbourne Cup Day, behind stablemates Tycoon Star (Written Tycoon) and Bacash (Cosmic Force).
That was after finishing runner-up on debut in the Maribyrnong Trial S. at Flemington on October 5.
This time around, the colt ran with winkers off, which was a masterstroke from trainers Ben, Will and JD Hayes.
Seamer believes Shining Smile will only get better after this performance, which was his maiden career victory in his third start.
“I’m not sure what the plans are, but he over-raced last start with the winkers on,” he told The Thoroughbred Report.
Scott Seamer | Image courtesy of Inglis
“They took them off. He was just doing a couple of things wrong, but he’ll learn as he goes along.”
Seamer liked the attitude Shining Smile displayed in his early days on his property near Ballina, a feature of his sire Spirit Of Boom, who has produced 27 stakes winners, including Group 1 victor, Jonker.
Spirit Of Boom currently stands for a $38,500 (inc GST) service fee at Eureka Stud, located 30km south-west of Toowoomba.
“The Spirit Of Booms are always good horses to handle, and they’ve got a very good demeanour about them,” Seamer said.
“The Spirit Of Booms are always good horses to handle, and they’ve got a very good demeanour about them.” - Scott Seamer
"I’ve got a Zousain colt half-brother to that bloke (Shining Smile) going to the Inglis Classic sales in February. It was a good update to the pedigree for him.
“Everything out of the mare (Nataya Rose) has been able to run.”
Progeny blossoming for the dam
Apart from Spirit Of Boom’s consistent success as a sire, Shining Smile’s dam Nataya Rose (Canny Lad) is also starting to throw some promising types on Seamer’s farm. And Shining Smile also gets his relaxed nature from her.
“I’m quite lucky, I own a share in the stallion, Spirit Of Boom. And I own the mare,” Seamer said. “She’s been a very good mare to us. I actually bred her too, National Song (Vain), her dam.
“I’m quite lucky, I own a share in the stallion, Spirit Of Boom. And I own the mare (Nataya Rose).” - Scott Seamer
“I sent her (National Song) to (the late producer of 55 stakes winners) Canny Lad three times and got three fillies, and I kept the three fillies.
“Now they’re all producing. Being Canny Lad mares, I like that style of mare.
“But she’s an easygoing mare; they can all gallop out of her and they’re good.”
Spirit of Boom | standing at Eureka Stud
Seamer said Nataya Rose has so far produced strong winners in Western Australia and Hong Kong.
“She’s had a horse in Hong Kong who won two (Wonder Win, by Pierro). He’s now retired,” Seamer, a former star jockey, said. “She’s had I think (six runners for four winners) so far, and they’ve done well at the sales for me.
“A So You Think (gelding Eee Pee Cee) has won in Western Australia at Ascot.
“And also a filly (So Nataya) by So You Think, who’s been placed (at Belmont).”
Shining Smile was a $160,000 purchase for Boomer Bloodstock (FBAA) from the Robyn Wise draft at the 2023 Magic Millions Gold Coast National Weanling Sale.
Shining Smile as a weanling | Image courtesy of Magic Millions
Lindsay Park assistant trainer Rahis Baig was trackside to witness Shining Smile’s win on Wednesday.
He said the colt was still showing some signs of greenness, but had plenty of improvement left in him.
“It’s very rewarding when he can come out and do that. He’s come out of some hot races, and race experience helped him get through the line,” he told racing.com.
“He’s still very young and learning his craft, but greenness is not a bad thing. I think there’s much more improvement for him moving forward.
“He’s been pulling up super, and we’ll see how he pulls up and let the horse decide where he wants to go next.”’
“He’s (Shining Smile) been pulling up super, and we’ll see how he pulls up and let the horse decide where he wants to go next.” - Rahis Barig
Stackhouse was impressed with the way Shining Smile put away his opponents on the Caulfield straight.
“He got into a nice position. He travelled really well, built into it nicely and was strong late,” he said.
“To my horse’s credit he’s very furnished and he knows what his job is now, so it was a good win.”
