One year after breaking her maiden at Kerang, Seattle Hope made another successful trip up the Loddon Valley Highway, adding the third victory of her career.

It has been a frustrating summer for the much-loved mare, plagued by awkward barriers, misfortune in-running and the challenge of the dreaded 57 rating making it difficult to obtain a start. Over the past six weeks, there were several false starts that prevented her from building momentum and was becoming frustrating for all invovled. After going close to a month between runs at her previous two starts through no fault of her own, Seattle Hope finished her most recent run at Tatura strongly, closing of the race in some of the best splits of the meeting despite not featuring in the finish.

That performance gave trainer Mitchell Freedman confidence that the mare would improve stepping out beyond 1100 metres, provided she could draw a more favourable barrier.

Reunited with Jake Duffy, who had partnered Seattle Hope in her previous two victories, the pair maintained their perfect winning record together. Duffy was able to cross the field early and control the tempo before hugging the rail and taking the shortest way home. Seattle Hope responded gamely, digging deep to hold on and score by a narrow, 0.15 of a length.

The win marked Freedman’s 20th winner of the season, with the stable remaining firmly on track in pursuit of the goal of 50 victories for the season.

Congratulations to all involved with Seattle Hope on a thoroughly deserved win.