Billy Egan rides Seonee to perfection in Queen Of The South win
A perfect ride from Billy Egan has helped Seonee (+450) take out the Group 2 Queen Of The South Stakes to give Patrick Payne a training double at Morphettville on the first day of the Adelaide Racing Carnival.
The Egan-Payne combination is a lethal one when going well and with an Egan peach from barrier one, the daughter of Winning Rupert stalked Legacies (+800), who led the field up to the home turn, before peeling off her back late to run away with a strong win.
Although it appeared as though the winner would need some luck on the rail, a massive gap opened for Egan to push his mare through and when he asked for an effort, Seonee let down with a blistering turn of foot.
Seonee would record a 1.5-length victory over Lady Jones (+700) and Silent Surrente (+2200), with Legacies holding on for fourth place as the leading division dominated the race from start to finish.
2024 Queen Of The South Stakes Replay – Seonee
Joe O’Neill represented the Patrick Payne stable in the post-race interview.
“We’re absolutely thrilled. We’ve got a heap of owners here,” O’Neill said.
“She’s just a lovely mare. We didn’t pay much for her and she’s been fantastic.
“Paddy Payne, what a training performance, and Billy Egan, what a ride.”
“She’s a lot stronger now than what she was.
“Who knows, next year the Coolmore Classic or races like that. She’s a much better mare when we can get a wet track, but we just haven’t had them.
“She’s now won nine races and is the second most winning mare from the 2021 Magic Millions Sale on the Gold Coast behind Imperatriz.
“She’s done a great job and Paddy has brought her along gently, let her develop, didn’t push and look what we have today.
“I think there’s a race in Brisbane, a mile and then there’s the Tatt’s Tiara.
“They’re probably her next two runs if we decide to go that far, otherwise we can put her away. We just don’t know how far she can take us.”
Billy Egan has a great record aboard Seonee throughout his career and he spoke post-race.
“I thought I only needed to come four to five horses off the fence. Everyone wanted to get away from the fence and I was always going to go up on the fence and come out to the middle,” Egan said.
“One was always going to drop off and I would always get into the clear.
“I was happy with how it panned out. Legacies was a good horse to use as a bunny and I knew it would take me a long way.
“She’s got a terrific record. It’s good to see her win at the mile as well.”