Photo: Kenton Wright, Race Images
Continuing the theme of sire and pedigree page enhancements leading into next month’s NZB Karaka Yearling Sales series is the clear-cut win by Sethito (Super Seth) in Saturday’s Bonecrusher Stakes (Gr 3, 1400m).
In an open race, Sethito revealed her class when having to be used early to find a good spot. She levelled up just prior to straightening, then after taking over, Sam Spratt pushed her out, gave her a reminder approaching the 200 metres to break clear, and from the 100 metres there was no doubt.
Favoured due to her dominant 5.8 length maiden win at Rotorua last month, Sethito took three starts to achieve her maiden success and even the addition of blinkers at Rotorua was insufficient to curb her greenness that day. However, in Saturday’s black type event she looked professional and could very well extend her record before the end of January, when two close relations are offered at the NZB Karaka Yearling Sale.
First up will be Book 1, Lot 271, a filly bred on very similar lines to Sethito as she is by Tivaci (High Chaparral) from Sethito’s Savabeel (Zabeel) half-sister Savito, who raced just four times for a win and three placings. The similarity is that Tivaci is a son of High Chaparral (Sadler’s Wells) whereas Super Seth is a grandson of High Chaparral through Dundeel.
Sethito’s half brother is Lot 337, a Savabeel colt and thus likely to be one of Waikato Stud’s star lots. Sethito’s younger brother, sold for $325,000 at Karaka earlier this year, is now active with trainer John O’Shea but yet to race. Both Suavito (Thorn Park) and Savito were covered by Super Seth in 2023.
The stud’s practice is to retain the first two fillies from their mares. Savito has been and so has Sethito, racing in the familiar Waikato Stud colours. Given Suavito’s first-class race record of eight wins, including two at Group 1 level and a further three Group races, any stud would be wise to do the same.
She is the star of her page although her half-brother Sultan Of Swing (Bachelor Duke) was no slouch, winning ten times, including a Te Rapa Group 3. A half-sister, Our Drama Queen (Darci Brahma), is the dam of Diss Is Dramatic (Dissident) whose six wins include three at Group level.
The writer was drawn to an article by Martin Stevens of the Racing Post whose excellent Good Morning Bloodstock column is a regular read. Stevens posted that this month marks ten years since the passing of High Chaparral. He had to be euthanised due to a perforated intestine and was only a few days shy of his 16th birthday and thus a great loss to the industry.
His first New Zealand crop, when based at Windsor Park Stud, included the mighty So You Think. His record in the southern hemisphere was superior to that of his northern hemisphere record which nonetheless includes the successful racehorses and sires Toronado, Contributer, Redwood and Wrote. Southern hemisphere-bred So You Think and Dundeel have both enjoyed great success at stud and even though both are still active, grandsons Super Seth and Castelvecchio (Dundeel) are signalling the successful continuation of a top–class line.
Sethito is Super Seth’s fourth individual black type winner representing his first crop, who are now three-year-olds. Her bloodline includes a double up of High Chaparral as her granddam is a daughter. He was all racehorse, featuring ten wins in 13 starts including six Group 1s headed by the Epsom Derby (Gr 1, 1m 4f). Two of his three placings were thirds in the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe (Gr 1, 2400m).
Not only, but also
Staying is the forte of the stock of Zed (Zabeel). Who could forget Verry Elleegant and her outstanding effort in the 2021 Melbourne Cup? Waisake won the Wellington Cup (Gr 3, 3200m) and Jimmy Mac the New Zealand Cup (Gr 3, 3200m). Jacksstar recorded a second in the Wellington Cup and a third in the Auckland Cup (Gr 1, 3200m).
However, a quick summation of the stakes performances by the stock representing Zed could be misleading. It is all too easy to assume that they are nothing but stayers, yet among his 17 stakes winners there are several that have sufficient zip to score at distances that might surprise.
Still not convinced? Two of Zed’s three elite-level winners have scored a Group 1 victory over 1400 metres, namely Verry Elleegant and Survived. Verry Elleegant won three Group 1s at 1600 metres.
Another case is Ladies Man, who also has form up to 3200 metres when finishing third in the 2023 Auckland Cup, run that year at Pukekohe. Later that spring he prevailed with a strong finish in the Livamol Classic (Gr 1, 2040m) before a trip to Melbourne, but was denied a start in the Melbourne Cup.
Joining Zed’s sprinter-miler category, Ladies Man was given a super ride by Opie Bosson in Saturday’s Mufhasa Classic (Gr 1, 1600m). Bosson extricated him from an awkward spot at the 600 metres and they went widest into the straight. The champion rider had him travelling sweetly, yet La Crique (Vadamos) appeared to have the race shot to pieces at the 200 metres.
Class kicked in and he levelled up at the 50 metres before thrusting his neck in front to land his second Group 1 and eighth career win from 31 starts, banking more than $880,000 in prize-money. He and La Crique had the finish to themselves with nearly three lengths back to third. Credit must be given to winning trainer Allan Sharrock for keeping the gelding fresh, as well as adding blinkers for his fourth run this preparation, which included an unlucky run for a close fourth in the Tauranga Stakes (Gr 2, 1600m) prior to Saturday’s triumph.
Ladies Man’s half-sister, Ladies First (Dylan Thomas) landed the Auckland Cup, they being two of six winners from Sydney Group 3 winner Just Polite (Dehere), who was zippy enough to win at 1100 metres as well as at 2000 metres. Just Polite’s half-sister produced Bendigo Cup (Gr 3, 2400m) winner and Adelaide Cup (Gr 2, 3200m) second Top Of The Range (Savabeel). Granddam Polly’s Rocket (Pirate’s Bounty) was a winner over five furlongs in the US. That’s quite a mixture of speed and stamina to consider.
Bold caps next?
Victoria’s focus on Saturday was Ballarat for their annual cup meeting and the feature sprint, the Tonks Handicap (1100m), went the way of Mrs Chrissie (Per Incanto), the only New Zealand–bred winner on the day, but she was quite impressive, collecting her biggest prize to date.
The six-year-old mare was second–last and wide early, then went four deep around the corner to be out in the centre of the track starting the run home. She kept up a strong run to level up inside the 150 metres, then ran clear to score by an easy 2.5 lengths. Normally Mrs Chrissie prefers to be on speed but this time she sat back. It made little difference and once straightened she let down and drew out to score easily, or as her connections pointed out, it’s good to know she has another string to her bow.
The same connections are keen to improve her worth with a stakes win. She achieved her first black type when third in the Sir John Monash Stakes (Gr 3, 1100m) back in July. Last season she recorded two wins at Caulfield and one at Sandown, her maximum distance being 1100 metres. Her 20 starts have yielded six wins, seven placings and her winnings stand at a little over $400,000.
Her brother, Don Carlo won eight times, including four at Riccarton, and was Listed placed there in the Pegasus Stakes (1000m). Her dam, Turf Fire (O’Reilly), was also a Riccarton open class winner and finished third in the Stewards’ Stakes Handicap (Gr 3, 1200m).
Turf Fire’s granddam Abany Girl is a daughter of Alydar (Raise A Native) and without digging it might be easy to assume that this family is all-American. However, Albany Girl is actually from the famous Eulogy (Cicero) family as her granddam Lady Sybil (Count Rendered) was sold at the 1959 Wright Stephenson & Co National Yearling sale at Trentham.
Lady Sybil was a top–class three-year-old filly and before her export to the US racked up nine wins, including the VRC Oaks (Gr 1, 12f), and beat the boys in the Caulfield Guineas (Gr 1, 1m). At stud in the US she produced the multiple Grade 1 winner Amerigo Lady (Amerigo), Albany Girl’s dam.
Amerigo Lady also foaled Pass The Glass (Buckpasser), an 11-time winner who landed six Group races, as well as Virginiana (Sir Ivor), dam of the Belmont Carter Handicap (Gr 1, 7f) winner Virginia Rapids (Riverman). New Zealand Thoroughbred Breeders’ Stakes (Gr 1, 1600m) winner Arlington Boulevard (Spinning World) is also connected as her great granddam is a half-sister to Albany Girl.
Mrs Chrissie has a connection of sorts with Hong Kong sprint sensation Ka Ying Rising (Shamexpress). The two share similar lines although reversed. Mrs Chrissie is by Per Incanto (Street Cry) from an O’Reilly (Last Tycoon) mare whereas Ka Ying Rising is by O’Reilly’s son Shamexpress from a mare by Per Incanto. Windsor Park Stud’s Shamexpress is represented by six lots next month, one in Book 1 and the remaining five in Book 2. They will no doubt be seen in a new light reflected by several good prices for his stock at last month’s Ready To Run Sale.
