Cromartry Park stallion Seinne sired his first winner when Poncirus won a 1670m maiden at Sam Houston racecourse in Texas on Sunday.

Poncirus (2c Seinne – Ghost Colony by Silver Ghost) was racing for the third time.  He settled at the tail of the seven-horse field then circled three-wide approaching the home turn.  Under jockey Chris Landeros, he duelled with Allie’s Blue Eyes in the straight before surging clear to score by 1.5 lengths.

Poncirus is prepared by champion trainer Steve Asmussen for owner-breeder Nelson Bunker Hunt.  Asmussen broke his own world record when Poppin won at Woodbine on December 6 to taking his 2009 tally to 623 winners.  Champion filly Rachel Alexandra is the stable star of the 44 year-old trainer who is based at the El Primero training centre in Laredo, Texas.

Seinne is a son of Husonnet and won twice at G2 level in his native Chile before relocating to the United States where Bunker Hunt placed him with trainer Ron McAnally.

Seinne won the Arcadia Handicap (G2) at Santa Anita and Tanforan Handicap (LR) at Golden Gate Fields.  He was also runner-up to Good Journey in the Citation Handicap (G2) at Hollywood Park.

Seinne came from last to collar G1 winner Sligo Bay in the Tanforan.  “This horse is so professional,” said winning jockey Ron Warren.  “He did everything perfect.  When I let him go he took off and really zipped by them.”

Seinne is by Arrowfield’s Mr. Prospector stallion Hussonet and is one of 8 winners from Chilean Group 1 performer White Lady (Worldwatch).  He is a brother to Chilean Group 2 winner Watchin and a half brother to Group winners Classical Lady and New Bride.

Nelson Bunker Hunt bred Poncirus from Ghost Colony, a winning half-sister to One Colony (Dehere) who won 6 races to 1800m including the Listed Pilgrim Stakes at Aqueduct.  Her only other foal to race is four-time winner Ghostly Concerto (Stravinsky).

Hunt was one of the world’s largest and most successful breeders in the 1960s and 1970s.  He owned Bluegrass Farm in Kentucky and among his Group 1 winners were Vaguely Noble, Dahlia, Empery, Youth, Exceller and Dahar.

In the late 1960s, Hunt established Waikato Stud in New Zealand and stood Dahar (Lyphard – Dahlia) as its foundation sire.

Hunt attempted to corner the world silver market but was bankrupted in 1988 and was forced to liquidate his thoroughbred operations.  But he still retains an interest in the industry.  “At my age, I don’t plan to do anything on a large scale,” he said.  “I just want to have some fun and try to get lucky racing.”

Seinne (Chi) is just completing his second season at Olga McKenzie’s Cromartry Park in Gingin, WA.  He stands for a $5,000 service fee.