SEYMOUR trainer Christopher Davis enjoyed a week to remember, landing a double at Tatura before backing it up with more success at Kilmore.
On Monday at Tatura, Davis saddled up two winners, starting with consistent mare Balgowan, who broke through in the Benchmark 56 1000-metre sprint with Sam Kennedy in the saddle. The five-year-old mare, by Warrnambool-based sire Puissance de Lune, showed sharp pace to notch up her second career victory from 22 starts. The win lifted her prizemoney tally to $71,315. Adding an extra layer of sentiment, Balgowan is out of Forty Nine Riddles, a mare also trained by Davis during her career, making the victory a family affair for the stable.
Davis wasn’t done there, with Jayzeel taking out the final race on the Tatura card, the Benchmark 56 over 1450 metres. Ridden by senior jockey Teo Nugent, Jayzeel finished strongly to post his fifth career victory.
The seven-year-old gelding then continued his purple patch of form just days later at Kilmore, producing another winning effort in the 0-56 1457-metre race. This time it was Declan Bates guiding him to the line, securing back-to-back wins for the gelding and capping a memorable week for Davis.
Jayzeel, a well-travelled campaigner with 67 starts to his name, has now built an impressive record of six wins alongside $172,790 in stakes earnings. His recent form suggests the veteran still has plenty of competitive racing left in him.
For Davis, the double success highlights the strength of his small but competitive Seymour stable. With Balgowan finding form and Jayzeel enjoying a winning streak, Davis looks set to build further momentum as the spring racing season heats up.
