Jockey Laura Lafferty didn’t just reckon the four-year-old mare had no hope, she knew it — her best (and only) hope was to try to catch the horse running second.
Because the tearaway Simply Inspiring simply had too much of a lead to lose. Her jockey, Noel Callow, knew it; and so did her trainer, George Osborne.
Even the course caller had put down the binoculars.
It turned out Seeking Glory was the only one who didn’t realise the race was over.
And when Lafferty had guided her into the open; well, she simply started running.
Fast.
Very bloody fast.
But even with 100m to go the race still looked all over bar the shouting.
However, it was at that exact moment Seeking Glory sprouted wings — and started seeking glory.
She didn’t just catch Colsridge in second place, she flew past him and then, just shy of breaking the sound barrier, swept past the 12/1 bolter and was almost a length clear when she hit the line.
It was the finish of which dreams — and legends — are made.
Driving home after the races, Lafferty said she still “couldn’t fathom” how the horse found so much speed in such a short distance.
“I really thought we might just get second and then she started flying; it was a superb run and I think the further she runs the better she will go,” Lafferty said.
“There’s no doubt she wants to get a bit more ground; I think a mile would be easy for her,” she said.
Thinking about the win on her way home, Lafferty admitted it was also causing her some concerns.
Mostly about how she makes sure she stays in the saddle next time Bourne starts Seeking Glory.
“I have already told my manager to do everything he can to keep me on that horse,” she said with a laugh.
“David has been really generous to me; very loyal and has given me some great opportunities in the past 12 months.
“But I would be really happy if he kept me on Seeking Glory; and I am a very pleased to note he is planning to step the horse up to longer distances; also another good reason to try and keep the ride.”
For Bourne the predicament of the next start is also the stuff of which dreams can be made.
The long-time local trainer has a dozen horses in work but quietly has big hopes for his latest winner.
“I admit I didn’t expect her to win, although I had expected her to run well,” Bourne said.
“She comes from a maternal line which always produces late starters; it might be a little old-fashioned when you look at what the two- and three-year-olds are doing these days, but I have had a lot of success with her progeny,” he explained.
“And we will see how she goes through the grades, but I have an eye on her as turning into something special.
“One thing I can confirm, I reckon she has just run her first and last 1000m; I know she will be better the further she goes.”
Like Lafferty, Bourne could not stop marvelling at that spellbinding finish from a horse having its first race.
He doesn’t want to get overly excited, but he does see a few trips to town for his latest winner once she shows him what her primary distances might be.
“There’s not a lot of room for error in the Yarra Valley straight, especially when they have the rail 3m out as they did today,” Bourne said.
“She might also shine in winter; I see a strong correlation between American horses (her US sire is Jimmy Creed) on their dirt tracks and our winter running surfaces,” he added.
“So I’ll find her a longer run in the next week or so and then we’ll see how good she just might be.”
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