Star Thoroughbreds Celebrate Another Sebring Winner

Sebring showed his hand as a real Classic sire last season, so it was no surprise when this three year-old son Shaftesbury stepped up in trip at Wyong on Thursday and won as he pleased.

The Gai Waterhouse trained gelding was having his second run back from a spell and showed real staying potential with a stylish two length win over 1600 metres as a hot favourite.

A $105,000 Magic Millions purchase from the Bell View Park draft for Star Thoroughbreds(who bought and raced Sebring), Shaftesbury was bred by Qatar Bloodstock in New Zealand and sent across to Australia to be prepped for sale by Adam Mackrell and his team.

He is the first foal of good metropolitan winning Reset mare Apollo’s Pride, a half-sister to Group winners Dopff, Rizon and Ready to Lift, as well as the dam of Group II winner Sir Clive.

It’s been a very active family in recent years producing Black Type winners such as Vilanova, Pussy Willow and Pussy O’Reilly.

Given the depth of this female family it would be no surprise to see Shaftesbury make his mark this season over the longer trips.