Sires Produce Winner for Sebring

Blessed with an uncanny resemblance to Sebring’s $7million earner Criterion, Sebring colt Seaburge confirmed his class and potential with a stylish victory in the Group II VRC Sires Produce Stakes at Flemington on Saturday.

Trained by David Hayes and Tom Dabernig, Seaburge was an easy debut winner at Pakenham in January before being beaten narrowly by another smart Sebring colt in Revolving Door at Sandown last month.

Lining up against Revolving Door again in this tougher 1400 assignment, Seaburge was able to turn the tables on his rival.

He enjoyed the perfect run in transit for Mark Zahra from gate one and dashed quickly from the top of the straight to take the lead from classy Sydney colt Detective to win by three-quarters of a length with Revolving Door a strong finishing third.

“It’s a springboard to next spring,” said David Hayes.

“He’s not racing for $200,000, he’s racing for millions give he’s a quality colt with a future at stud.

“From the moment he walked in the stables we thought he was a bit special. He was bought because he looks so much like Criterion and moves like him. I hope he turns out half as good.”

A $220,000 Magic Millions purchase from the Widden Stud draft for Bahen Bloodstock/ Lindsay Park Racing, Seaburge has already won two of three starts earning $142,050 and is headed to Sydney for the Group I ATC Sires Produce Stakes next month.

Bred by Henderson Racing and Breeding, he is a full brother to Group II winning three year-old filly Catch a Fire and they are the first two foals of Polska, a placed Encosta de Lago daughter of Group I winner La Volta.

Widden Stud sold a full sister to Seaburge at the Magic Millions this year for $100,000 to McEvoy Mitchell Racing .

Seaburge is the 18th stakes-winner for Sebring, who has 43 entries for the Inlis Australian Easter Yearling Sale to be the second most represented sire behind only Fastnet Rock.